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THE COLPORTAGE LIBRARY. Vol. 3. No. 36. Sept. 1, 1896. 

Semi-monthly. $2.25 per annum. Entered at Chicago Post-office as second-class mail matt*. 




SUNDAY TALKS 




TO THE YOUNG 

JOSIAH MEE 




The Bible Institute 

Col portage Association, 

Chicago. 



This book is entered as second-class matter at the Chicago 
Postoffice, and is mailable at the rate of one cent for four 
ounces. It weighs, including wrapper, about six ounces, and 
for 2 cents postage can be mailed to any part of the United 
States, Mexico, or Canada, but the person so mailing it must 
mark on the wrapper the word "Magazine? or " second class 
matter.'* 




•Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me' 



SUNDAY TALKS 

TO THE YOUNG 



BY / 

JOSIAH MEE. 




JH 4 



Chicago-. 

THE BIBLE INSTITUTE COLPORTAGE ASSOCIATION 

250 La Salle Avenue. 

Eastern Depot: New York Depot: Canada Depot: 

East Northfield Mass. 112 Fifth Avenue. 140 Yonge St., Toronto. 






The Li&r <y 
of Gong u. ess 



WASHINGTON 



^ 



Copyright 1896 by Fleming H. Revell Company 



PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. 



We have added this volume to The Colpoetage 
Libraey in order to supply a book from which mothers 
can read to their families on the Sabbath and at other 
times. The importance of such home reading cannot 
be over-estimated. 

The addresses it contains were originally delivered at 
Sunday morning services in the author's church, and 
thus they have been tested as to their power to interest 
the young. They are not so heavy that these will not 
listen, or so light that they will not instruct and build 
up character. 

There are thirty-one selections — enough to last for a 
month, reading one chapter a day. 



The Bible Institute Colportage Association 

Was founded for the purpose of issuing good sound Christian 
literature at low prices. The work is purely undenominational iv, 
its character, and the sympathy and co-operation of all Christians 
is invited to help along the work of counteracting the influence o\ 
the vicious literature now being so widely circulated. 

Send stamped envelope for pamphlets regarding the work of 
the Association, and for complete catalogues, which include books 
on many topics, — all helpful and all at specially reduced prices. 

Special terms to Colporters and for free distribution. Col- 
porters and canvassers wanted in every community. Libera! 
terms. Address, 

A. P. FITT, Supt. 

The Bible Institute Colportage Association, 

'Headquarters: 250 La Salle Ave., Chicago 
Eastern Depot: East Northfield, Mass. 
Canadian Depot: 142 Yonge St., Toronto 
New York Depot: 112 Fifth Ave., New York 



CONTENTS. 



1 The Deliveeer 7 

2 . "Children that will not lie" ... 10 

3 "The Earth is the Lord's" 13 

4 A Bad Time Coming 17 

5 A Venomous Beast 20 

6 About Ears . 24 

7 A Fool and his Money 27 

8 Our Father Abraham 31 

9 " His Majesty " 36 

10 God's Armor 40 

11 The Hidden Man 43 

12 Doing Business for the Devil .... 46 

13 "What Hour the Thief would come" . 49 

14 Children's Idols 53 

15 The Sort of Man that will make a 

Mighty Preacher 58 

16 Bezaleel, a Study for Bright Boys . . 63 

17 A Wonderful Tree 67 

18 "I am Jesus" 70 

19 " Provoking One Another " 74 

20 "Thy Servant" 76 

21 " Give Attendance to Reading "... 80 

22 Anchors— False and True 83 

23 Spoilers 86 



CONTENTS 



24 Fight for the Eight . 90 

25 "A Present for Esau" 95 

26 "Why do Ye not rather take Wrong?" . 98 

27 A Good Habit 102 

28 A Link in God's Chain 105 

29 What makes a Man into a Prophet? . . 108 

30 The Bush and the Book 112 

31 "Because he believed in his God" . . 116 



The Deliverer. 

Romans 11: 26. 

This is one of Christ's famous titles. Many men have 
titles such as M.A., B.A., General, Doctor, Bishop, etc., 
but Jesus has more than them all. A Sunday School 
teacher once asked her scholars to find out for her all the 
titles of Christ they could in the Scriptures. One of the 
girls brought the next Sunday a list written out of no 
fewer than forty-nine, and she had not included this — 

"The Deliveeee." 

Let us see what our Lord delivers from. We need 
only mention one thing — SIN. From His victory over 
this sting of death He has His name. His name shall 
be called Jesus, because He shall save His people from 
their sins. 

Let us sing our Great Deliverer's praise. 

I. Sin is a Pit. 

Men fall into it, and the further they fall the further 
from the light and the deeper in the mire ; but from this 
horrible pit, the good Lord is the Deliverer. Read what 
David says: 

"I -waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined 
unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out 
of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet 

7 



SUNDAY TALKS 



upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath 
put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: 
many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. 
Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, 
and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to 
lies." 

II. Sin is a Fiee. 

A naughty tongue is set on fire of hell. Covetousness 
burns like fire. The good are bidden to pull the wicked 
out of the fire, but the Great Deliverer says, " The fire 
shall not kindle upon thee." 

III. Sin is a Lion. 

When the old=time map-makers did not know what 
else to put into a certain part of a map they used to 
write " Here are lions " across the blank place. 

All over the world the fierce lion of sin stalks and 
growls for his prey. In the time of Cain this wild beast 
was crouching at that man's door. Be sure your sin 
will find you out, unless He who delivered Paul out of 
the mouth of the lion delivers you also. 

IV. Sin is a Prison. 

Giant Despair, who governs that dungeon, beats, binds, 
brands his prisoners unmercifully. They cannot sing 
like the two men in Philippi's jail did, nor can they 
escape forever except by the grace of Him who is 
stronger than the strong man (giant) armed, who is such 
a Deliverer that He can preach "the opening of the 
prison to them that are bound." 



THE DELIVERER 



V. Sin is a Disease. 

No leprosy so loathsome or fatal; no fiery serpent so 
terrible in its sting as that, to deliver from which the 
Son of Man was lifted up, that whosoever believeth in 
Him might not perish, but have everlasting life, The 
Great Physician, with His balm, is not only in Gilead, 
but stands ever ready to heal and make whole all who 
have need of a physician. 

All the fitness He requireth 

Is to feel your need of Him; 
This He gives you, 

'Tis His Spirit's rising beam. 

VI. Sin is a Bondage. 

No Pharaoh was ever so hard a task-master as the 
tyrant Sin. Paul talks about him in the sixth chapter 
of the Epistle to the Romans, where Sin ought to be 
printed with a capital letter as a proper noun. 

" Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves 
servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; 
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto right- 
eousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the 
servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that 
form of doctrine which was delivered you." 

Jesus talks about him as the sinner's tyrant, "Verily, 
verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the 
servant of sin" ; but He says — He who brings sinners 
out of the iron furnace and from under the hard yoke — 
1 If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."- 



"Children that will not Lie." 

Isaiah 63: 8. 

Here is a picture for every child to ponder. Will it 
stand as a portrait or pencil-sketch of you ? It is a very 
short description, but a sufficient one, of the people of 
God — anybody can understand it, anybody can recollect 
it, anybody who will can come up to it. It does not 
require learning or cleverness to be like these people 
God chooses for His own — " children that will not lie." 

Let us look at a child of this sort. 

I. He will not Lie for Fun. 

Other boys may try to cram all sorts of " fibs " and 
'*" stretchers " into their companions, but he "fears a lie" 
so much that he is ready rather to be laughed at than to 
try to raise a laugh by telling even " a white lie." Upon 
his lips is simple truth. He does not pretend to know 
what he does not know, or to be able to do what he 
knows he cannot do. Whether he remembers the verse 
or not, he knows that all things are divided into two 
classes — those that are true and those that are not — and 
only on the things that are true will he think even. He 
may blunder, fall into mistake, repeat what he thinks is 
correct but is not, but he will not try to deceive for the 
sake of amusement, or for the sake of appearing wise. or 
clever. 

10 



CHILDREN THAT WILL NOT LIE 11 

II. He will not Lie for Profit. 

He will not cheat at marbles. He will not copy or 
crib his lessons. He will not take notes into the exami- 
nation=room. He will not try to deceive his father or his 
teacher, or mislead his brother. He will keep his 
promise, though someone he has spoken to may have 
forgotten. He will not get hold of bits of excuses not 
to do his duty. He will not come " the old soldier " and 
pretend to be poorly or tired so as to get a holiday. He 
will always speak the "exact truth about the results of a 
day's fishing. He may be tempted to do so: he may find 
that other boys and girls cheat, and that he loses his 
marbles or his place in class or in the examination 
because they are dishonest, but he will not lie. 

III. He will not Lie for Fear. 

Often others will try to lead him not to speak the 
truth, and to threaten him if he will not say what they 
do, but his tongue refuses to pronounce a falsehood. 
When he has neglected duty or fallen into some serious 
fault of behavior or temper, he may be afraid of conse- 
quences, but he will rather suffer than be a liar. He 
fears God, who has said that all liars shall have their 
part in the lake of fire, more than what man can do to 
him. The fear of God always puts out the fear of man 
or of consequences, just as the sunshine puts out the 
fire in the grate. 

The following lines I found one day in the handwrit- 
ing of a Sunday School Superintendent, who long since 
passed to his reward, after holding office in a country 



12 



SUNDAY TALKS 



school for more than twenty years in succession. They 
may seem old-fashioned now, but they are not out of 
date: — 

On Lying. 

Lie not, but let thy heart be true to God. 
Cowards tell lies, and those that fear the rod. 
Dare to be true; nothing can need a lie, 
A fault which needs it most grows two thereby. 

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in 
truth." 





"The Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof." 

Psalm 24: 1. 

This verse occupies, I think, a more conspicuous 
place in England than any other in the Bible. It 
stands on the front of the Royal Exchange, in London, 
and is in sight of tens of thousands of men every day 
of the week. As it is repeated three times at least in 
the Scriptures, it must be of great importance. 

Let us recollect that the earth is the Lord's because 

I. He is her Maker. 

He who built all things is God. How great He is! 
How wise! How good! The Founder and Carpenter of 
the world. He wrought by weight and measure, but 
what mighty scales and tools He used. How full the 
storehouses of the world are! What crops come out of 
the soil, what draughts of fishes out of the sea, what 
iron and gold and gems out of the earth and the depths ! 
God thought of everything, when He furnished the 
great home for His family. 

"The earth with its store of wonders untold, 
Almighty! Thy power hath founded of old." 

No wonder David said, when the gifts for the temple 
were all heaped together, "Of Thine own have we 
given Thee." 

13 



14: SUNDAY TALKS 



II. He is her Ownee. 

Man is God's steward of all the world's wealth, but he 
is only occupier, and not possessor. God parts with 
nothing. We brought nothing into this world, and it is 
certain we can carry nothing out. Not a particle of mat- 
ter can the biggest thief steal out of the world, though 
he spend a lifetime in trying how to rob God in this 
matter; and however he may change the shape and 
character and position of what he finds in the world, 
the cleverest philosopher never yet created a single 
grain of sand. " Who hath first given to him, and it 
shall be recompensed to them again," is the safe prom- 
ise to pay of St. Paul. God lends us everything to 
enjoy, nothing to think our own. In this world we have 
only a life interest, and are but tenants at will. It all 
belongs to God just as much as it did when Adam's 
footstep was the only one upon its surface. He is the 
Landlord of the entire globe — the earth and the increase 
of it are His forever. 

III. He is her Master. 

The seasons, the weather, the floods, volcanoes, and 
earthquakes are all His servants. See Jesus Christ 
controlling the laws of gravitation, of growth ; at a word 
quelling winds and seas; clouding the sun in thick dark- 
ness, etc. See, at the word of God, the Red Sea parted, 
the clouds pouring out bread six days a week for forty 
years, the rock sending forth streams of living water in 
the desert. 

The Master and Lord of the earth controls all things 



THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, ETC. 15 

still for the sake of His Son and His Kingdom. When 
a wind is needed, that good work may be done and 
prayer answered, it is made to blow. When rain is re- 
quired as a sign to a faithful missionary's message, it 
descends at his request. The earth brings forth plenti- 
fully sometimes when a miserly farmer's barns are stuffed 
full already, and is sterile when some poor husbandman 
goes forth with tears, sowing his few precious grains of 
seed — for this is a stage of trial, man has sinned and is 
out of paradise now, and we see not yet all things put 
under him; but the sure word of promise stands, "The 
meek shall inherit the earth," and the wealth of the 
sinner is laid up for the just, and every man who lives 
for God and seeks first His kingdom and righteousness, 
has found out many a time in his life that circum- 
stances have a Master, and that all things serve His 
sovereign will. 

Because the earth is the Lord's, let everyone take 
care. 

I. Not to Abuse Hee. 

God hears the earth's cry when a covetous man tries 
to squeeze out too much increase without feeding the 
land. She must enjoy her Sabbaths, she must be kept, 
and dressed, and tilled. To this end the husbandman 
God doth instruct. God hears the earth. Hosea wrote: 

" And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, 
saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall 
hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and 
the wine, and the oil." 



16 SUNDAY TALKS 



II. Not to Defile Hek. 

All sin is defilement. Adam's iniquity covered the 
earth with noxious growths. The iniquity of the Ca- 
naanites caused the earth to cast forth her fearful bur- 
den. When she drinks human blood, when unnatural 
sin is committed, mother earth is made to groan (as St. 
Paul writes) for the manifestation of the sons of God. 

III. Not to make an Idol of Hek. 

The world is good, is beautiful, but it is not to stand 
in the place of God. Love not the world. Be not a 
man of the world, but a man of God. What shall it 
profit even if the whole world be gained if the soul is 
lost? There have been sun= worshippers (Baal), and 
moon- worshippers (Ashteroth), but, alas! more people 
bow down to the earth still than either to sun or moon. 
The earth, though it is the Lord's, has its place, and 
that place is not in man's heart, but under his feet. 
"He hath put all things under his feet." 



A Bad Time Coming. 

" The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." 
Jeremiah, 8: 20. 

"The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, and " 

Then the year is as good as over, and only winter is 
left. It is a gloomy lookout for those who have a great 
work to do or a great battle to fight if winter is upon 
them. As "the dawning of the morning" stands for 
hope and coming good, so the approach of winter means 
misery, death and despair. In the East "the time when 
kings went forth to war" was not winter; and our Lord 
said to His people, "Pray ye that your flight be not in 
the winter." There is little chance of escape then, and al- 
most certain death. The strait gate is hard enough to 
enter in the best weather, but who will be able to get in 

when it is 

Choked up With Snow? 

Fancy! "not saved," and winter blasts blowing and 
frost biting. One man said, 

My days are in the yellow leaf, 
The flowers and fruits of life are gone; 

The worm, the canker, and the grief 
Are mine alone. 

For it was winter, and he was not saved. Winter means 

I. No Sunshine. 

"The days of darkness" Solomon talks about, and a 
a great many more have found out what he meant when 

17 



18 SUNDAY TALKS 



the sun was darkened, and when for a long time not so 
much as a star appeared. But they had had the long 
days of summer, when the sun was bright, when all the 
day long the way was plain before them. These they 
neglected, and now they have no light, no light ! Dark- 
ness is come upon them; they sit in darkness, and in 
the shadow of death, but are not saved. 

II. No Comfoet. 

Summer is pleasant, but winter is chill and bitter. 
Till the end of harvest there are plenty of flowers, and 
there is plenty of fruit and food. Now things are 
changed. The butterflies are gone; the singing of birds 
is hushed; everything outside looks dull and miserable. 
Those who are lost now — "not saved" — are in evil case, 
for winter is a suffering as well as a perilous time. The 
days are-come when men say, " I have no pleasure in 
them." 

III. No Company. 

The stillness and loneliness of winter, those who live 
in the country understand better than town dwellers. 
The visitors who look in on fine summer days are all 
gone. The wide waste of hard snow which is visible 
everywhere is a sort of barrier none care to pass. There 
is nothing to find and nothing to do in the field or the 
garden— desolation reigns supreme. The iron chain of 
winter, which is over all things, is grim and terrible as 
death. Not saved in winter, and left alone, means to 
perish miserably. " Ye shall die in your sins " explains 
it. 



A BAD TIME COMING 19 

Does this seem a strange lesson for the young? 
They ought to be as wise and far-seeing as the tiny 
ants which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provide 
their food in the summer and gather it in the harvest; 
and they should recollect that winter comes when sum- 
mer and harvest are past-. "The ants are a people not 
strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." 
Therefore let young folks 

1. Learn this verse: — 

"Use time in time 

While time doth last, 
For all time is no time 
When the time is past." 

2. Obey this command : — 

" Do thy diligence to come (to Jesus) before winter." 




A Venomous Beast. 

"And when they were escaped, then they knew that 
the island was called Melita. 

And the barbarous people shewed us no little kind- 
ness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, 
because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and 
laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the 
heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barba- 
rians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they 
said among themselves, ' No doubt this man is a mur- 
derer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet ven- 
geance suffereth not to live.' 

And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no 
harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have 
swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they 
had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, 
they changed their minds, and said that he was a god." 
(Acts, twenty-eighth chapter, verses one to six.) 

Paul's viper is a sort of picture of other and worse 
things. The devil himself is called " that old serpent," 
and many sins, and sinners, too, fasten on people, and if 
not cast off in divine strength at last bite like a serpent 
and sting like an adder 

20 



a venomous beast 21 

Temptation, like Paul's Viper, 

(1.) May be Unnoticed at Fiest. 
Vipers and other snakes lie dormant in cold weather, 
and the busy, kindly apostle gathered this with the 
sticks in his armful of fuel for the fire. Busy, kind 
people, never thinking of wrong, but working hard for 
the comfort and help of others, may unawares bring 
temptation upon themselves. The devil lies crouched 
not only in the bunch of grapes, and the furze roots, 
and the apple tree branches, but sometimes in the bun- 
dle of tracts, under the seat of the Sunday School form, 
and even between the Bible and hymn=book on the pul- 
pit cushion. 

(2.) Comes out of the Fiee. 

Our comforts and blessings are not unlikely to 
quicken the sleeping viper of sin. A young man went 
on a holiday to enjoy himself, but there he found the 
gambling table. An old man made a big fortune, and 
out of the heap of gold he had gathered there sprang 
forth the viper of pride which did eat his flesh like a 
fiery serpent. A woman had a bottle of wine to make 
her strong, because she was poorly, and felt as comfort- 
able as the apostle with his drenched garments close to 
the ruddy fire glow, but the love of strong drink pierced 
her through like a fiery dart. 

Be sure and mind lest a temptation fasten on you 
when you are very comfortable and at ease. 

(3.) Flies at youe Flesh. 

This evil reptile did not just get hold of Paul's 



22 SUNDAY TALKS 



sleeve as a playful dog will perhaps snatch at your 
dress, but it stung the flesh and hung on like a leech 
or a bulldog. 

Sin always wants to wound and defile the temple of 
God and that which is made in His likeness. The 
devil loves to degrade, if he can, the human face and 
form divine. How many bear the horrid marks of sin 
in their faces. When he gets hold he has no mercy; 
he will sting, and gnaw, and poison, and debase, till the 
once lovely form is only fit to be covered over in the 
dust out of sight. The sting of death is sin, and it 
always stings to death unless the victory is given by 
God's grace. 

(4.) Looks to Others like the Mark of a 
Bad Character. 

The Maltese thought Paul was a murderer, because 
this foul thing flew at him, and no doubt it was Satan's 
intention to damage Paul's reputation if he could. We 
must not judge by the outward look of things always. 
Many an honest man has been charged with dishonesty; 
many a teetotaler with secret drinking. Joseph was 
not wicked because his master's wife slandered him, 
and even his lost robe was no proof of his guilt. To 
be tempted is not always to be tarnished. See in the 
wilderness of Judea the venomous beast hanging to the 
hand of the Son of God Himself for forty days, and yet 
He felt no harm. The accuser of the brethren has been 
a liar from the beginning. 



a venomous beast 23 

(5.) It must not be Played with. 

Now, if Paul had fondled that viper, had placed it in 
his bosom, or even continued to hold and examine it 
curiously, most likely he would have suffered, and it 
would have served him right. 

The only way of escape from temptation and sin is to 
cast it off instantly. He who procrastinates is lost. A 
moment's delay in casting off the foul viper may make 
all the difference between innocence and guilt — life and 
death. An old proverb says, " There is no distinction 
between little and big in snakes." 

(6.) The Victok Gains Powee over Men 
for God. 

As these islanders felt that Paul was somehow nobler 
than themselves when he shook off the poisonous beast 
and stood unharmed among them, so the world will give 
honor to moral courage and strength to retain virtue 
and piety in the midst of temptation. To him that 
overcometh, even now, God giveth a crown — men feel 
that he is nobler than they, and they will listen to his 
words. So the devil very often helps to advertise the 
Gospel, and builds a pulpit and rings the bell for a 
preacher like Paul, who, treading Satan under foot, 
takes " a rise" out of his contemptible footstool. 




About Ears. 

God says to the preacher " Speak my word faith- 
fully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" To the con- 
gregation, " He that hath ears to hear let him keep 
them open." Through Ear-gate the devil got into 
Man=Soul, and through that gate He travels who is the 
Word of God. Keep your ears open, for faith cometh 
by hearing. Hear, and your soul shall live. The Bible 
speaks of deaf people who have ears. Let us see what 
sort of ears they have. 

I. Covered Ears. 

We have no earlids, like eyelids, but it is a very old 
trick for people to shut their ears up, and to turn them 
away from the truth. None so deaf as those that will 
not hear. 

God has to uncover some people's ears, and those 
who will not let Him are called " uncircumcised in 
ears." The long, thick, black locks of pride and self- 
will may resist the finger of God that would draw them 
aside, but when God's word is spoken in judgment 
those covered ears shall feel it. 

II. Throttled Ears. 
When the doctor looks into some cases of deafness, 
he says, " Your ears are right enough, the mischief is 

24 



ABOUT EARS 25 



in the throat. The stoppage is at the other end of the 
tubes." 

" Let these sayings sink down into your ears," said 
our blessed Lord, but in some cases at church what 
is heard with our outward ears does not go down, but 
goes through. In at one ear, and out at the other. 

Men with throttled ears thought that Ezekiel's 
mighty preaching was just like pretty music — they 
only heard a pleasant humming in their ears. People 
with throttled ears liked to get as many to speak to 
them as ever they could, because their ears itched so, 
and it was pleasant to be tickled. But this is not what 
God wants us to sit in church for. Keep your ears 
open, unstopped. Let them try words as you taste 
food. But bread in the mouth only will not make you 
strong; if the word is in thy mouth, swallow it. 

III. Bewitched Ears. 

" John! John!! Bless the boy, are you deaf?" 

" Did you call me, mother?" 

" Yes, two or three times; what have you been doing 
with yourself?" 

" Oh, I never heard you. I was listening to such 
lovely music. I thought I was in a grand palace." 

"Ah, castle-building and day-dreaming again. You 
read too many of those fairy tales and such like. Kun 
to the post with this letter for me." 

Plenty of people's hearts are so full of other sounds 
and voices that they can't hear. "Keep your ears open" 
means "be present, not absent"; be alert, be listening, 



26 SUNDAY TALKS 



" Why do ye not understand my speech?" asked the 
Savior, of the Jews, and then He gives them the answer 
to His own question, "because ye cannot hear my 
word." 

Bewitched ears, are, like the fool's eyes, in the ends 
of the earth. What good are they there? Listening 
with such ears will no more make your heart clean, than 
looking into a mirror will make your face clean. 
IV. Wakened Eaes. 

Isaiah tells us God wakened his ears every morning 
to hear as the learned. Some people will not be wak- 
ened. They are not like Samuel; he did not pull the 
bed-clothes over his head, or go on dreaming when the 
Voice came to him. He was wide awake in a moment, 
eyes open, ears open, lips open. Of such hearers Christ 
said, " Blessed are your ears, for they hear." 




A Fool and his Honey. 

"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling in- 
to a far country, who called his own servants, and 
delivered unto them his goods. 

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and 
to another one; to every man according to his several 
ability; and straightway took his journey. 

Then he that had received the five talents went and 
traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 
And likewise he that had received two he also gained 
other two. But he that had received one went and 
digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, 
and reckoneth with them. 

And so he that had received five talents came and 
brought other five talents, saying, ' Lord, thou deliver- 
edst unto me five tatents. Behold, I have gained beside 
them five talents more.' 

His lord said unto him, ' Well done, thou good and 
faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few 
things, I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter 
thou into the joy of thy lord.' 

He also that had received two talents came and said, 
* Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents. Behold, 
I have gained two other talents beside them.' 

27 



% SUNDAY TALKS 



His lord said unto him, ' Well done, good and faith- 
ful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, 
I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou 
into the joy of thy lord.' 

Then he which had received the one talent came and 
said, 'Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, 
reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where 
thou hast not strawed. And I was afraid, and went and 
hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast that is 
thine.' 

His lord answered and said unto him, ' Thou wicked 
and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I 
sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed. Thou 
oughtest therefore to have put my money to the ex- 
changers, and then at my coming I should have received 
mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from 
him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For 
unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall 
have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be 
taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the 
unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be 
weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (Matthew, twenty- 
fifth chapter, verses fourteen to thirty.) 

I. What did He do with It? 

Buried it, and thought he was very clever. Laughed 
at the diligence of his neighbors, who ploughed in the 
cold mornings and went forth weeping, bearing precious 
seed, and who had long patience as they waited for the 
precious fruits. He would not let even the bankers get 



A FOOL AND HIS MONEY 29 

anything out of him — no, he knew better. It was too 
much trouble, and what did he care for other people's 
needs? he was all right. He would have an answer if it 
was ever wanted. He had not asked for the talent, and 
did not care for God or man, but only for himself. 

II. What did He say about It? 

He said he ivas afraid! It is a pity he had not fear 
enough to make him work. An idle man is always 
ready with excuses. He is mean enough to try and lay 
the blame upon the Master himself. " I knew you were 
a hard man!" He was soft enough, or would not have 
said this. 

Some idle folks think they compliment others when 
they say " Ah! I am not like you; you are so strong, and 
so clever, no wonder you succeed." " Genius is noth- 
ing else than a capacity for hard work," one great man 
said. This story looks in that direction. 

III. What did He get for It? 

1. Rebuke, " Thou wicked "—for all this excuse is 
a lie; the reasons alleged are false. Your work was no 
greater than your ability; it was not fear, it was 
idleness ("Thou slothful") that was at the bottom of 
your heart. 

He who will not take pains, pains shall take 1 him. 
The idler has no reply. Every mouth shall be stopped, 
even the sluggard's, before God. 

2. Loss. " Take the talent away." He cannot be 
trusted with God's gifts who will not take the trouble to 



30 SUNDAY TALKS 



use them for the good of others. Unfaithful steward- 
ship of any good, ends in bankruptcy. 

After a time the reckoning comes. Perhaps this idler 
thought the Master was as listless as he, and would not 
note a single talent in his book; but God's accounts are 
like a banker's, worked out to a decimal point. 

3. Punishment. Perhaps he thought, "Well, the 
Master can but recall his gift, and I shall be right 
enough. I do not care about being a ruler and going 
into the joy where the King is, and where these diligent 
people are; I am quite content to go on as I am." 

But he was undeceived. Neglect of Grod's gifts is a 
crime, and must be punished. " Cast him out " — no 
friendship for the man who never cared to help others — 
" into darkness," for he never made the world bright for 
others; let him lie where his money lay. Cast him out; 
he is unprofitable, good for nothing, as his life has 
shown. But listen what comes up out of the darkness; 
it is all mystery, but those sounds of weeping and 
gnashing of teeth, what do they mean? 




Our Father Abraham. 

" And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of 
Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the the heat of 
the day. 

And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men 
stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet 
them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the 
ground, and said, ■ My Lord, if now I have found fa- 
vour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy 
servant. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and 
wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: and 
I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your 
hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye 
come to your servant.' 

And they said, ' So do, as thou hast said.' 

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and 
said, ' Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, 
knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 

And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf 
tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he 
hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and 
the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; 
and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 

And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward 
Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on 

31 



SUNDAY TALKS 



the way." (Genesis, eighteenth chapter, verses one to 
eight, and sixteen.) 

The importance of this great man is shown in many- 
ways. He is called the Father of the Faithful, the 
Pattern of Believers, the Friend of God. His name is 
mentioned above fifty times in the New Testament 
Scriptures. The trifles, therefore, that went to make 
up the perfection of this mighty prince are all well 
worth our notice. Let everyone who would in Abra- 
ham's footsteps tread remember that 

I. He was a Polite Man. 

Notice how he saluted the strangers, going forward to 
meet them, and bowing before them. He was not like 
the surly Nabal, or even that Pharisee, Simon, whose 
lack of civility our blessed Lord noticed and publicly 
rebuked. 

Good manners may exist with wicked conduct, but 
rudeness and incivility generally spring from a bad 
heart. " Be courteous " is a divine command, and re- 
member, it was by the rough hand of Peter, the old 
Galilean fisherman, that the Holy Ghost chose to write 
it. Want of politeness very often means the presence 
of pride. Many rich men would scorn to say as Abra- 
ham did, "Your servant!" 

Think of the perfect politeness in the conduct of 
Him who poured water into a basin and began to wash 
the disciples' feet, and who wrapped together the nap- 
kin which had been about His head, and laid it aside, on 
the morning of the resurrection. 



OUR FATHER ABRAHAM 



II. He was a Quick Man. 

He " ran " from the tent door, though it was the heat 
of the day. He quickly made his proposals of hospital- 
ity. He " hastened " into the tent. He said to Sarah, 
" Make ready quickly." He " ran " unto the herd. He 
" hasted " the young man to dress the calf. 

Is there a single instance in the Bible in which God 
chose for His friend or servant a dull, listless, half= 
hearted, lukewarm man? Even His angels He causes 
to fly swiftly. The Holy Ghost is the spirit of quick 
understanding, and sharp perception is seldom accom- 
panied by heavy, lumbering, bodily movement. 

All through Abraham's life his activity was as marked 
as his courtesy. For one thing, he was a man who, 
when he had anything important to do, got up early in 
the morning to do it. 

III. He was a Handy Man. 

Emigrants must be such if they are to succeed still. 
The lesson shows that he knew several things: 1. How 
bread should be made, and the number of measures of 
meal, and the kind of flour. 2. That "cakes upon the 
hearth " would be the quickest prepared. 3. That he 
could choose from the herd " a calf tender and good." 
4. That he could gird himself and come forth and serve 
his guests under the shade of the tree. 

If God had made Adam as big a noodle as some of 
his sons have been, he would not have been of great 
service in Eden to dress it and to keep it. An old mis- 
sionary said it was a good thing for him, and for many 



M SUNDAY TALKS 



others, that when he went to Africa he was an M.A. — 
that is, a Master of the useful Arts. Unless we have 
misread the parables, and mistaken many allusions in 
the Acts and the Epistles, both our Lord Himself and 
the great Apostle to the Gentiles were men of affairs — 
not those who came to be waited on, but those whose 
hands were ready to minister at any time to the neces- 
sities of others. 

Boys and girls should pray for tact, deftness, common 
sense, and presence of mind. For lack of such qualities 
many an angel's visit has been missed, and great bless- 
ings lost to families and the world. These things are 
certainly taught in the school of Christ. 

IV. He was a Generous Man. 

There are many people who will give to those they 
know, but they are always suspicious of strangers. It 
seems that the angel of the Lord came in the form of a 
stranger, and the lodging of strangers has always been 
a mark of Christian discipleship. 

To-day very few are preparing themselves for the 
word of commendation which Abraham will receive, " I 
was a stranger, and ye took me in." Great towns and 
big streets are apt to make people selfish, and forgetful 
of the little acts of generosity common in the country, 
and very jealous of any " intruders." 

See how this good man's heart led him on. He pro- 
posed first a morsel of bread for the travellers, but he 
ended by serving them with butter, and milk, and veal. 
So true it is that generous impulses, yielded to, improve 



OUR FATHER ABRAHAM 



35 



and enlarge the heart. Those who give as little as 
possible will soon lose all joy in giving that little. 

Abraham was not tired of the company of his visitors, 
for when they left he did not bow them a cold good= 
bye, but went with them to bring them on the way — a 
very lovely mark of sincere hospitality. 

Remember those that become rusty, idle, selfish, and 
awkward are not likely to find either men or angels 
coming out of their way to give them a call, either at 
noonday or in the evening. 




" His Majesty." 

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and 
John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high 
mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and 
His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was 
white as the light. 

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and 
Elijah talking with Him. 

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, ' Lord, it 
is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here 
three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and 
one for Elijah.' 

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshad- 
owed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which 
said, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well 
pleased; hear ye Him.' 

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their 
face, and were sore afraid. 

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, 'Arise, 
and be not afraid.' 

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no 
man, save Jesus only." (Matthew, seventeenth chapter, 
verses one to eight.) 

This is how Peter, after thirty years, speaks of the 

36 



HIS MAJESTY 37 



Transfiguration of Jesus, which is related here: "We 
were eye- witnesses of His Majesty." 

Nearly all through His life in this world our Savior 
was like a great king in the form and dress of a servant, 
but it was needful that He should manifest His glory 
to some witnesses. This He did by miracles, and in 
other ways. On this occasion three chosen witnesses 
alone were taken up into a high mountain apart to be- 
hold His glory, as of the only^begotten of the Father. 
There they saw 

I. How Beautiful He was. 

While He prayed there came upon His face the 
beauty of the Lord. He shone not like Moses did upon 
Mount Sinai, because of reflection, but through the 
out-shining of the glory which was hidden within. 
This made His very garments white as the light. 
Moses' beauty could be hidden with a veil, just as a 
diamond can be covered, but the beauty of Christ's 
glorious body dyed His robes all the colors of the rain- 
bow. 

Perhaps it was of this sight that St. Paul thought 
when he wrote: — "We shall not all sleep, but we shall 
all be changed," and — " We see Jesus crowned with 
glory and honor." 

II. How Leaened He was. 

The authorized teachers of the day despised the 
Master because they said He had never learned, but 
here are the two greatest teachers of the world in con- 
verse with Him, — Moses the Giver, and Elijah the Re- 



38 SUNDAY TALKS 



storer, of the Law. The disciples would remember, 
when they heard Him speak, that He did not destroy 
the Law and the Prophets, but that He fulfilled them. 
If He was " before Abraham," no wonder that Moses 
and Elijah were His friends. They both had wrought 
miracles, fasted forty days, divided the waters, rebuked 
kings, and were wondrous in life and death. It seems 
that the disciples were able to recognize these great 
prophets, to understand their speech, and to enjoy their 
companionship. It was heaven to be on the mountain 
top with Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, and 
with just men made perfect. 

III. How Near to Heaven He was. 

If they could behold the Master and the saints with- 
out terror, the awful cloud of the Lord as it descended 
filled them with the same dread as that which Moses 
and Elijah felt in the presence of God. They fell to 
the earth on their faces at the sound of the Voice from 
the excellent glory, but the Savior saw and heard all 
as that which was familiar and delightful. It was His 
Father who spake, "This is my beloved Son." Moses 
and Elijah were servants, but " this " a Son, a beloved 
Son, always well^pleasing in the sight of God the 
Father. So welhpleasing that for His sake He is 
pleased with Moses and Elijah, Peter, James, and John, 
and all mankind. 

IV. How Solemn His Teaching was. 

There were many wonderful words of the Lord Jesus, 
at which some people were astonished and others were 



HIS MAJESTY 



39 



offended, but this Voice from heaven, " Heae Him!" 
would teach the apostles that all His words were the 
very words of God. Up to this time it might be said, 
"They have Moses and the prophets: let them hear 
them "; but now their importance is set aside, and the 
Son of God becomes the Faithful and True Witness, 
whose words shall never pass away. 

Jesus is the Prophet and the Lawgiver of the world 
forever. When the disciples' eyes were opened, Moses 
and Elijah had vanished away. They had come to give 
their testimony to Christ, and now that is done, " they, 
looking up, saw no man save Jesus only." 





God's Armor. 

"My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power 
of His might. 

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able 
to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle 
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, 
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of 
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, 
that ye may able to withstand in the evil day, and hav- 
ing done all, to stand. 

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with 
truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel 
of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, where- 
with ye shall be able to quench all the fi ery darts of 
the wicked. And take the helmet of salva tion, and the 
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesi- 
ans, sixth chapter, verses ten to seventeen.) 

Paul was among soldiers when he wrote this, and he 
knew there was a battle for him to fight, and for all the 
Christians at Ephesus. He speaks of the army of the 
enemy, and then calls on all who are on God's side 
to arm themselves. These verses tell you just how 
Paul felt as one of the soldiers of Christ. Let us con- 
sider whether we feel the same. 

40 



GOD'S ARMOR 41 



I. He had the Belt of Truth 

close to his heart, and, as the foundation of all he knew, 
he was sincere and real. This was his rejoicing — a good 
conscience. 

II. He had the Coat of Mail of 

Righteousness. 

No one could say that he had wronged them, or had 

done them evil. He is very safe whose character will 

bear inspection, and who stands before God justified by 

faith. 

III. The swift, strong Shoes of Gospel 

Grace, 
which helped him on many a rough and thorny road. 
If he had not wings on his heels like the fabled messen- 
ger of the gods, or seven-league boots, he had his heels 
anointed as well as his head. "How beautiful upon 
the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good 
things." 

IV. He had the great Shield of Faith. 
Believing in the presence and love and faithfulness 

of God, not doubting the truth of His promises, but rest- 
ing always on His Holy Word, not one burning or pois- 
oned arrow could enter to wound or corrupt his heart. 
He could have sung: — 

"I can believe, I do believe, 
That Jesus died for me; 
That on the cross He shed His blood, 
From sin to set me free." 

V. He wore the glittering Helmet of Hope. 
When he got the bright hope of deliverance from all 
sin } and of eternal glory, it made him lift up his head — 



42 SUNDAY TALKS 



he was taller as well as happier . He who has no hope 
has no strength. Paul did not wear the eagle crest of 
Rome, but the red and white insignia of the Cross and 
the hovering Dove. 

VI. He geasped the double-edged Swoed of 

THE SPIEIT. 

God's Word was the weapon of his warfare, and he 
was an expert swordsman. He knew that nothing 
could resist that flame of fire which was burning in his 
heart and naming from his lips, just as he could not re- 
sist in Stephen's case. 

VII. He HAD ABUNDANT STOEES OF PEOVISION 

ALWAYS AT HAND — IN PEAYEE. 

Armor and weapons are soon of no avail unless the 
soldier's strength is sustained, but Paul knew where his 
fresh springs of strength lay and had no fear of the 
stoppage of supplies. He would be able to withstand 
in the day of battle, and, having done all, to stand en- 
tire at last — more than a conqueror, because in all 
things, in all prayer, he had learned to depend on God. 

Are you armed like him? or are you fighting against 
such men as this? I should not like to have to oppose 
troops armed like Paul was, for I know on which side 
the victory must be. If you are not yet armed on the 
side of goodness and of Christ, take heed and beware 
what you do, lest haply ye be found to fight even 
against God, 



The Hidden Han. 

" Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else 
make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the 
tree is known by his fruit. 

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak 
good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the 
mouth speaketh. 

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart 
bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the 
evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men 
shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day 
of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, 
and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew, 
twelfth chapter, verses thirty-three to thirty=seven. ) 

Our Lord was always teaching the people that our 
outward life of conduct and speech only shows just 
what sort of a being the inner man is. He very often 
calls that invisible man inside us "the heart," some- 
times "soul." He knew what was in man. In the 
verses quoted He shows what power that hidden man 
within has to use the tongue, and how he will be 
judged for it, If he only sends forth "idle words," he 
will have to account for them at the Judgment Day, but 
if he goes so far as to use the tongue to pour forth blas- 

43 



44 SUNDAY TALKS 



phembus words against the Holy Spirit of God, the 
wrath of God abideth on him for ever . 

We learn here that the master of the tongue is 

I. A Great Collectoe. 

He is always picking up and gathering into a treas- 
ury all sorts of things . If he likes that which is good, 
he gets that; if that which is evil, he gets a whole store- 
house full of rubbish, or even worse. There are three 
sorts of treasuries: First, like Joseph's barns, full of 
good and precious corn only; second, like Solomon's 
ships, having gold, silver, ivory, and, alas! also apes and 
peacocks ; third, like Jeremiah's basket of figs, in which 
all were naughty and bad, corrupt and abominable. 
This work of collecting into the treasury is always going 
on, and the heart is, besides, like a well in which the 
springs are always rising and keeping it full, no matter 
how much goes out. 

II. A Great Distributor. 

He uses the hands and feet, and sometimes even the 
eyes, to give out his treasures, but his special agent and 
messenger is the tongue. If he is like a viper, his 
tongue is full of deadly poison. If he is like a vine, 
his tongue brings forth clusters of rich grapes, and no 
thistles and thorns, much less poison berries, for in it 
is the law of kindness and of truth. 

But he cannot help distributing whatever he possesses. 
Good or evil things, they are sure to be brought forth, 
so that 



THE HIDDEN MAN 45 



III. He Has Great Responsibility. 

A word of burning blasphemy will grieve and anger 

the Almighty God, and a word of sin may poison other 

men; a word of trifling and folly may keep back others 

from good. Even if he both blesses and curses, like a 

spring sending out at the same place briny water and 

fresh,, which is most unnatural, the good will not undo 

the bad; the lightest word is recorded against the great 

assize. It is a solemn thing to be a living soul and the 

master of a tongue. 

Learn: 

1. Keep your heart with all diligence. Turn away 
your eyes from vanity, and shut your ears to sin. Take 
care the treasury of your heart is not filled up with evil 
things. 

2. Fill your heart with all goodness. Be sure that if 
the word of Christ dwell in you richly it will, without 
fail, 

Flow from your heart and fill your tongue, 
Fill all your life with purest love, 
And join you to the church above. 



"What Will You Give He?" 

or 
Doing Business for the Devil. 

"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went 
unto the chief priests and said unto them, 

* What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto 
you?' 

And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of 
silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to 
betray Him." (Matthew, twenty=sixth chapter, verses 
fourteen to sixteen.) 

Judas saw a chance of making money. For the sake 
of silver he sold himself as well as his Master. Plenty 
of clever people, who think they shall gain by wicked- 
ness, find out too late that they are beggared forever. 

I. A Bad Beginning. 

1. Secrecy. Judas had to be sly, silent, separate in 
heart from the rest of the disciples, if he were to plot 
against Christ. His information, for which he thought 
he could get money, was only of value if all was kept 
dark. See him going off by night to the plotting 
priests, and yet back again to the company of his 
brethren, and even to dip his hand in the dish by the 
Master's side. 

46 



WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME? 47 

What calls for trickery and double-dealing ends in 
shame and distress. 

2. Temper. It is quite clear that while the greed of 
gain was the moving power in this wicked man's con- 
duct, he was directly led to his bad bargain with the 
priests by his indignation at Mary's generous "waste" 
of the precious ointment, and our Lord's splendid com- 
mendation after his murmuring and blame. Beware of 
bad temper that will not be reproved, and that cannot 
bear to see others happy. Nothing makes the heart 
ready for Satan to enter sooner than " the sulks." 

3. Evil company. Of all the men Judas might have 
been expected to keep clear of, these spiteful, crafty, 
and jealous Chief Priests were surely the best known to 
the twelve. They had proved themselves so often the 
bitter foes of our Lord. 

It seems they did not approach Judas, but he took 
the trouble to seek them out. That night visit to 
them of the traitor is a wonderful picture to think over. 
"They were glad," says the record; so was all hell full 
of fearful glee. 

It is a bitter thing when, for the sake of " business " 
or " money," people will run off into evil associations. 
Wilt thou help the wicked ? 

II. A Bad End. 

Judas wanted money, and he got it, but how little, 
and for how short a time! Thirty pieces of silver — 
why, it is a paltry sum, not half the worth of Mary's 
gift. When he got it home and counted it . 



48 SUNDAY TALKS 



Think! did those cursed coins ever go into " the bag" 
of the brotherhood? Was it his idea to give something 
to the poor or to repay by this desperate game some of 
the money, of which John said he was the "thief," 
before it was discovered? Anyhow, — 

1. He lost his money, for he counted it out again and 
carried it back with horror, and wanted to repay it, as 
if by such a sacrifice he could undo his fearful work. 
Hear the jingle of it as it falls on the marble floor of 
the temple of God! How the devil cheats those who 
think by his help to cheat God! 

2. He lost his friends. He had thrown up his 
" bishoprick " and brotherhood, and now the new 
friends he had made, who had been so glad to see him, 
and so pleasant, cast him off with sneers and contempt. 
" What is that to us? See thou to that." He had been 
their tool; what did they care for his distress now? It 
was hard to bear their taunts, and to feel that they cast 
all the responsibility of the crime upon him. This is 
still exactly the way of the world — heartless selfishness 
for those who are down. 

3. He lost his soul. There are not many cases of 
self-murder mentioned in the Bible. It must always be 
looked upon as a most horrid crime. The picture of 
this man's death is abhorrent and fearful in the highest 
degree. The very place was called in after days, " the 
field of blood." What an awful end for the money* 
lover — "that he might go to his own place"; the "son 
of perdition," and yet the man who had been so near to 
the heirs of heaven. 



«« What Hour the Thief would Come." 

" Let your loins be girded about, and your lights 
burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for 
their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that, 
when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto 
him immediately. 

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he 
cometh shall find watching. Verily I say unto you, 
that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down 
to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 

And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in 
the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those 
servants. 

And this know, that if the goodman of the house had 
known what hour the thief would come, he would have 
watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken 
through. 

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man com- 
eth at an hour when ye think not. (Luke, twelfth 
chapter, verses thirty^five to forty.) 

Like Samuel, every one of you dwells in God's tem- 
ple, and a bitter, crafty foe is watching always for a 
chance of getting in to quench the light of the lamp of 
God which is in your custody. 

There are four weak places where you have specially 

49 



50 SUNDA Y TALKS 



to set a watch, because through these he can come by 
some trick unless you prevent him. We will call this 
thief and destroyer the Evil Spirit of Strong Drink, 
and he will come, if possible, through the door of Hear- 
ing, or of Sight, of Smell, or of Taste. If you begin to 
listen to tales of the good qualities of drink in small 
doses and on special occasions, you may next want to 
look at it for yourself, and soon to get the fragrance of 
it, which some are first pleased with as others drink it 
in their company, and then to sip and taste it for your- 
self; and then the thief has got in, the temple is defiled, 
and will soon be in darkness. 
So be sure and sing, — 

" Cautious the doors of sense I close, 
And keep them shut against my foes, 
Who press to enter in." 

But I want to tell you when specially to guard ears 
and eyes, nose and mouth, against this foe, and what 
hour the thief will probably come to you. 

I. When in Company. 

You are not perhaps in any danger if at home and 
alone, but you may forget yourself in a large company 
when others are drinking wine, and may begin to wish 
you could enjoy yourself as they seem to do. You 
won't see these happy drinkers some day, perhaps, 
when they have to let the thief be master of the house 
and their tormenter. Don't you let him get in when 
you are among friends. 



WHAT HOUR THE THIEF WOULD COME 51 

II. When Tired, 

Wine says, " I will make you fresh and strong again. 
You need a glass of something now. How faint you 
are." 

Don't believe him. Get a glass of hot milk, or go to 
bed and sleep. Keep him out, or you will be tired of 
him some day, and will find no rest and no relief any- 
where else. 

III. When very Glad or very Sad. 

Excitement or joy or success will perhaps be a chance 
for him to come. Your side has won in football, and 
the others say, " Have a glass!" You are so delighted 
that you scarcely stop to think before the thief is at 
your lips. Or it is your birthday, or you are " out of 
your time" as an apprentice, or it is your sister's wed- 
ding, or perhaps even your own, and everybody says 
you must take a glass of wine to-day. Beware! this is 
the hour the thief will break in. 

Or you have great trouble. You go to a funeral; it is 
very sad, everybody is in tears; the day is very cold, 
and the cemetery is certain to be exposed and chill, and 
perhaps you have got wet, and will have to sit in your 
wet clothes. " Just take a sip, it will cheer you and 
help you to bear up; you will not feel so faint or so" 
cold." Alas for you, if this is your comfort at the 
grave side! — there may be another and a sadder funeral 
some day, perhaps there, and people will have to shed 
bitterer tears over you. Keep the thief and the mur- 
derer out. 



52 STNDAY TALKS 



IV. When You aee on a Visit. 

The thief says, "You must do like others here, or 
they will be offended. It is not polite to make your 
friends feel that you reflect upon them for taking a lit- 
tle wine by standing out and being a teetotaler. It is 
all right at home, but on a holiday and in a friend's 
house it is different." 

Look out! Keep your head level: he's fooling you. 
Watch at this special hour, or he will be in, either 
through the door or window, or by a breach in the very 
wall of the house. This thief can be very bold and 
brazen at times, as well as crafty and insinuating. 

V. At Cheistmas Time. 

It is to be feared that more pledges are broken and 
good promises trodden under foot in the month of De- 
cember than in any other of the twelve. All these 
other times mentioned before seem to come together at 
Christmas time, in the happy holidays. Young people 
lose their heads, and the foe gets in, and the breath of 
evil quenches the candle of the Lord; the golden can- 
dlestick is thrown down, and the light that is in them 
becomes darkness, how great! Then keep thy heart 
with all diligence against this evil spirit of drink. 
Touch not, taste not, handle not, lest ye perish by the 
way. 




Children's Idols. 

" Little children, keep yourselves from idols." 

1 John 5 : 21. 

They say that Athens was so full of idols that it was 
easier for St. Paul to find a god there than to find a 
man. I once heard a great preacher say that in London 
now there are more idols than there ever were in 
Athens. So it seems all the idolaters have not gone 

yet. 

I know people will say that men and women now=a= 
days fall down and worship gold, and make that their 
god; not cast into the figure of a calf (as at Mount 
Sinai), but in little round bits which we use as money. 
Never mind what great and clever and bad men and 
women worship; have boys and girls any idols, do you 
think? Do you think you are all quite converted from 
idolatry, and that God sees that you worship Him 
alone? I mean do you really keep the first command- 
ment, " Thou shalt have no other gods before me"? 

I. A Boy's Idols. 

To help you to answer the question, I will set down 
a few things that I have known some boys really wor- 
ship — that is, they have thought more of them than 
they have thought of God, and they could not live and 

53 



54: SUNDAY TALKS 



be happy without them. These things had their best 
thoughts and their heart: — 

(1) A Football. — Once there appeared in a paper 
a picture of a number of lads kneeling on the ground 
all round a football and joining in a prayer," Glory be to 
thee, O football!" They were worshipping it out- 
wardly; but hearts worship is what God forbids too. If 
a boy neglects his duty, disobeys his teacher, dishon- 
ors his parents, and loses his money to play football, is 
it not his master and his god? If when he comes to 
Sunday-school or church, he is talking, or writing, or 
thinking about the match he played on Saturday after- 
noon rather than about God's day, or His word, or His 
love, is not a football that boy's idol? 

(2) A Pipe. — Suppose a boy will tell a lie, and de- 
ceive his mother for a smoke; suppose he will go off to 
bed, and make an excuse not to kiss her lest she should 
smell his breath; suppose he should tell his sister or 
the younger brother never to say a word, though they 
know that he smokes, but he wants to make his father 
and mother believe that he does not, — is not the pipe 
his god? He thinks it will make him happy; it costs 
him money; it costs him sickness and suffering, per- 
haps, at first; it costs him truth; and even love, too, he 
gives away for it. Is not his pipe an idol, then? and 
don't you think he pays rather too dearly for the wor- 
ship of his little god? 

(3) A Pigeon. — The Chinese worship cats, some peo- 
ple in India, monkeys, but many boys worship a pigeon. 
What do I mean? Why this: they will spend more 



CHILDREN'S IDOLS 55 



time over it by far than in reading God's holy Word; 
they will steal away the Sabbath hours in playing with 
it and flying it; they will quarrel over it, and, perhaps, 
even fight for it; they will walk miles and watch for 
hours to train it; they will boast of it, and tell lies for 
it, and even fight, if necessary, with their own friends 
for it. Is not that having it " before 1 '' God, which the 
very word of the first commandment forbids? What- 
ever comes between a boy and God may be an idol, 
and these idols are very hard to keep yourself from, 
though they are so little, if once they get into your 
heart and build their nest there. They can coo and 
cling, and it is very difficult to hunt them out and make 
them fly. 
But now what about 

II. A Girl's Idols, 

for the text is just as much for them as for the boys. 
Rachel tried to hide her little silver gods by sitting 
upon them, and girls often do the same nowadays by 
calling them by other names. I will set out in the day- 
light, however, three classes, and see if their right name 
is not that which old St. John gave them — idols. 

(1) Ornaments. — If a girl will rather sit and mope 
than go to church or to a friend's house because she 
cannot wear some trinket; if she will pout and be bad= 
tempered because she cannot get a new pair of gloves; 
if she is elated, and delighted, and full of spirits, be- 
cause she has a new hat or necktie; if she loses her 
temper because a damp morning puts her hair out of 



56 SUNDAY TALKS 



curl; if she takes affront because she is passed by and 
not admired; if she is jealous of another girl because 
she is better dressed or more noticed than herself, — 
what estimate does she put upon ornaments? No 
doubt they are the idols of her heart. Life would be 
another thing to her without them. She may try to de- 
ceive herself, but she keeps them as the apple of her 
eye, and can as ill bear them to be touched. They are 
her gods. 

(2) Pets. — Do you know a girl who cannot be happy 
unless she is fondling a dog, or nursing a cat? who will 
neglect the care of her mother, and leave at any time 
the charge of her baby brother, to stroke the kitten and 
feed it, and make it comfortable? who never has any 
patience to teach the poor little boys and girls in her 
own locality or in the Sunday-school, but' plenty of time 
to comb, and clean, and feed, and lead out her pretty 
little spaniel? Write down her name as an idolater, for 
she knows very well she w orships and serves the crea- 
ture more than the Creator who is blessed for ever. 

(3) Amusements. — There are such a lot of little 
gods belonging to this class that I am almost afraid to 
bring it in; but I must, for, more than anything else, 
harmless amusements fill up hearts that ought to be the 
temples of the true God. Suppose a girl lies in bed in 
the morning reading a nice book, when she ought to be 
up and busy helping mother in the house or about her 
school work, is not that book an idol? It quite spoils 
her morning devotions, and crowds God out of her mind. 
Suppose she does fancy work because it is nice and 



CHILDREN'S IDOLS 



57 



easy, instead of other work which is set for her ; or sits 
at the piano when she is badly wanted elsewhere, will 
not music's charm bewitch and steal her heart away 
from God? 

If you are an idolater, dear boy or girl, let me say, — 

1. Remember those who worship idols become like 
unto them. 

2. Pray tear out your idol from your heart, and break 
it before Christ's cross. 

3. Work hard, and set your heart on things above. 





The Sort of Man that wfll Make a Mighty Preacher. 

" And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon 
Jesus to hear the word of God, He stood by the lake 
of Gennesaret, and saw two' ships standing by the lake: 
but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were 
washing their nets. 

And He entered into one of the ships, which was Si- 
mon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little 
from the land. And He sat down and taught the peo- 
ple out of the ship. 

Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Si- 
mon, ■ Launch out into the deep, and let down your 
nets for a draught.' 

And Simon answering said unto Him, ' Master, we 
have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nev- 
ertheless at Thy word I will let down the net.' 

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great 
multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they 
beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other 
ship, that they should come and help them. And they 
came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to 
sink. 

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' 
knees, saying, 'Depart from me; for I am a sinful 
man, O Lord.' For he was astonished, and all that 

58 



A MIGHTY PREACHER 59 

were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they 
had taken: and so was also James, and John, the sons 
of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. 

And Jesus said unto Simon, ' Fear not; from hence- 
forth thou shalt catch men.' 

And when they had brought their ships to land, they 
forsook all, and followed Him." (Luke, fifth chapter, 
verses one to eleven.) 

St. Paul saw in young Timothy such marks as he con- 
sidered " prophecies going before on him." What can 
we see in Peter which show a great preacher in the bud? 

I. He could Work. 

When he had poor luck in fishing, he did not give up 
in one hour or two, but went on right through the night, 
casting, and drawing, and watching the nets. And in 
the morning he did not feel so disheartened as to fold 
his hands or waste time in grumbling to others, but 
went on to wash and cleanse the nets so as to be ready 
again at the first opportunity to go to sea. 

The gifts of energy and patience — " sticktion " they 
are called nowadays — are a fine basis of character. See 
how Peter sticks to his work when the fish are netted; 
how he gets his partners also to help, till, notwithstand- 
ing the breaking net — which would have discouraged 
some men — both the boats are filled with the squirming 
fish, down to the water's edge. 

II. He Could Listen. 
See him, with his nets all aboard and clean, keeping 
the boat in position with an oar, as he drinks in the 



60 SUNDAY TALKS 

great Teacher's word and marks its wonderful effect 
upon the vast crowd on the sands. Who with a soul in 
him could be in that boat and not long for the power to 
preach, too? Peter was silently learning how to do it 
by listening. 

They are not likely to make great preachers who do 
not know one when they hear him. 

III. He could Obey. 

" Thrust out a little," said Jesus. 

Some people would have wanted to argue the point 
first. " They will never hear you," " The boat is better 
here as it is, quite firm and steady." 

There are lots of people who have no idea that a 
preacher can tell best where his pulpit ought to be; and 
it is a thing they always argue about, both in the church 
and the open air, till the critical moment is lost. Peter 
obeys. 

" Let down your nets " is the second word of com- 
mand, and another test, too. Human nature could not 
forbear just one word here, but the " I will " came be- 
fore the end of the sentence. Few men know so much 
better than others as fishermen. Their art is nearly all 
the result of personal observation and a sort of instinct, 
so that they hate to be told what to do. Peter had a 
heart humble enough to yield obedience to One who 
was called a carpenter, though he himself was a pro- 
fessional fisher and knew his work. 

IV. He could Keason. 
That marvellous draught of fishes was to this man far 



A MIGHTY PREACHEH 61 

more than a chance. He could see at once the relation 
between cause and effect, and knew that such an effect 
required a superhuman cause. The power above man 
that had drawn the crowds of eager people to listen to 
Christ's gracious words, and to yield obedience to His 
law, was as much demanded for this. Christ to him was 
divine. Without the perception and discernment of the 
finger of God, others might gather in those fish, but 
Peter could not. 

An open eye and ready mind to draw conclusions are 
not always as " common to man " as one might suppose. 
But " thought " is inseparable from a great fisher of 
men. 

V, He could Feel. 

See him falling down — strong, busy man, his heart 
was touched, and very deeply. 

A shallow nature would have said, " I am a lucky 
man," or " I am a clever man," or " I am a well repaid 
man." A worldly nature would have exclaimed, " I 
have a good haul. Soul, take thine ease." Peter said, 
"I am a sinful man." This is the natural cry of one 
who can feel the presence of God. How many have 
hearts, but they feel not? 

There never was a great preacher yet who did not need 
the cheering word spoken to him in moments of over- 
whelming feeling, "Feak not." God helps His servants 
to forget their own unworthiness and deep distress at 
the sight of all undeserved success by the promise 
" Thou shalt see greater things than these. 4 ' 



62 



SUNDAY TALKS 



Those who are going to be great workers for God 
need not fear to look for such success in their earthly- 
trade as shall make it worth the Lord's while to spirit- 
ualize their occupation. What a tent-maker of men for 
the Holy Spirit's in- dwelling did Paul become! What 
a collector and recorder of precious things for the public 
good of the church was Matthew in his gospel! 





Bezaleel, a Study for Bright Boys. 

And Moses said unto the children of Israel, 
" See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the 
son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and 
He hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in 
understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of 
workmanship; and to devise curious works, to work in 
gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in the cutting of 
stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make 
any manner of cunning work. And He hath put in his 
heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son 
of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath He filled 
with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of 
the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the 
embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in 
fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any 
work, and of those that devise cunning work." (Exo- 
dus, thirty=fifth chapter, verses thirty to thirty-five.) 

As the tabernacle was to be built and furnished, three 
things were necessary — First, an architect's plan; for 
nothing of the sort had been erected in the world before, 
so far as we know, except idol temples. The plan, all in 
detail and complete, God Himself had prepared, and 
showed it to Moses on the Mount. Second, materials 
of all kinds for the erection and fitting up of the same, 

63 



64 SUNDAY TALKS 



These things the people brought, and in such quantity 
that it produced embarrassment. But, third, some man 
was needed who was artist, designer, workman, and 
teacher enough to carry out the work. Without him 
the plans and the materials could never evolve the tab- 
ernacle of God. Where was he to come from? 

I. God always has a Man Keady when he is 

WANTED. 

No sooner were the gifts offered for the building than 
the name of Bezaleel was heard. He was called by 
name, as Samuel and John and Saul of Tarsus were. 
God calls men, not only to preach, but also to build, and 
engrave, and weave, and plough, and sow the corn, and 
thresh it. The gift of men to the world is the greatest 
gift of the ascended and glorified Savior, but great men 
are not discovered till their work is ready for them to 
do. 

II. Those who want to be Clevee Men must be 
Good. 

Would God's Spirit have rested upon Joseph and 
given him such judgment if he had not lived a pure 
life? or could David have so skillfully played with his 
hand on the harp as to charm the moody king had he 
been jealous or mean himself? or would Paul have been 
able to do all things through Christ strengthening him 
had he been idle and murmuring? Bezaleel was filled 
with the Holy Ghost, so he must have been a holy man. 
The Spirit who made Jeremiah and John mighty proph- 



BEZALEEL, A STUDY FOR BRIGHT BOYS 65 

ets, made them holy. Consecrated talent alone can 
really help the work of God. 

III. Those who want to be Useful may Pray 

for the Best Gifts. 

You cannot ask for too much if you want to use it for 
God. This man found that God could touch the brain 
and fill him with new ideas — that He was the God of 
the hand as well as of th e tongue, and could give skill 
in graving and cutting and carving, as well as in design- 
ing curious and cunning things. 

If you have to learn Latin or Geometry, pray about 
it. If you have to dress a window, or clean a watch, or 
tend looms, or make up accounts, pray over your work. 
He who made man's mouth and likes to hear him speak 
or sing well, made his eye and can improve it, his fin- 
gers and can give them touch and movement. How 
much the voice, the ear, the hand, the wrist can be im- 
proved by care and prayer only those know who walk 
with God, and believe that slovenliness is irreverence. 

IV. Those who have the Best Gifts must Use 

THEM WELL'. 

(1.) Bezaleel knew how to ivork. 
Some are able but idle, and do nothing much for lack 
of effort. The works he did are enumerated in the Bi- 
ble, and it is expressly stated that at the finish Moses 
looked upon all the work, and behold, they had done it 
as the Lord commanded; and Moses blessed them. 
(2.) He was able to work with others. 
Some clever men do not like a partner, but God gave 



66 SUNDAY TALKS 



Bezaleel a helper in the person of Aholiab, a man of an- 
other tribe, and far removed from that of Judah in 
thought and feeling. 

(3.) He could teach others also. 

Many gifted men are selfish and impatient, and so 
make very poor teachers. Unless they write books, 
their learning and genius will perish with them. It is 
a mark of grace joined with gifts when the good Spirit 
puts it into a man's heart that he may teach. 

Let bright boys be ready when they are called to do 
any great work which is needed to be done, and instead 
of saying "I can't," say "I will pray about it, and do 
my best." 




A Wonderful Tree. 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husband- 
man. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, He 
taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He 
purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot 
bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more 
can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are 
the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, 
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye 
can do nothing. 

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as 
a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, 
and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If 
ye abide in me. and my words abide in you, ye shall 
ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much 
fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." ( John/fifteenth 
chapter, verses one to eight.) 

The Bible speaks of three wonderful trees, or four — 
two in the Garden of Eden (Knowledge and Life), and 
one in the Paradise of God on both sides of the marvel- 
lous river. This tree, however, in the lesson is most 
wonderful of all, and probably its size and its continu- 
ance are as wonderful as any other points that I can 

67 



SUNDA Y TALKS 



mention. But in these verses there are four wonders 
that must be first referred to. 

I. Its Eoot and Stem. 

The root and support of this wonderful tree is Jesus 
Christ Himself. In the first Psalm the just man is lik- 
ened to a tree planted by the rivers of water. This tree 
was planted by God's own right hand. Its origin can 
never be traced — it is from everlasting to everlasting. 
All that was ever good and lovely in this world has 
sprung out of this root, and is sustained by it. 

II. Its Branches. 

The root is invisible, but the branches can be seen. 
They are all the good and wise and holy people who de- 
pend upon and serve our Lord Jesus. 

These branches are united to Him very wonderfully. 
Did you ever notice how strangely the branches of a 
vine grow out of the stem — different from other trees? 
That suggests how those that love Jesus are related to 
Him. 

The branches are of all sizes and of various appear- 
ances, but they all live by their union with Him. How- 
ever close they may be to each other, they will die un- 
less united to the Stem and Koot. His life is in each 
one of them always, or else they perish. 

III. The Cultivator. 

The Hand that planted this marvellous tree, which 
can be seen now in all the world, still cares for it. God 
the Father of Heaven keeps His loving eye upon it 



A WONDERFUL TREE 69 

night and day lest anyone hurt it. A great many ene- 
mies have tried to damage the tree — the wild boar out 
of the woods, and the fierce and wicked haters of all 
good. Many a branch has been lopped off by wicked 
hands, but the tree grows and spreads still. The Vine- 
dresser watches every branch and twig. If the blight 
gets on one He cleans it; if another is too feeble He 
props it; if another is too rank He prunes it; all those 
that are fruitful He rejoices in, and especially when the 
fruit is fully ripe and brought to perfection. 

IV. The Fruit 
is of a sort that grows on no other tree in the world. If 
you want to know exactly what it is, you must read the 
full description, Written by the Apostle Paul in his let- 
ter to the Galatians, who lived, as you know, in the 
country where the other vines grew in plenty. He gives 
a proper list: "Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle- 
ness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." In all 
these there is not one action such as praying, fasting, 
giving, but only dispositions and tempers of the heart, 
which only God will create. 

Please remember this tree stands for Christ and His 
Church, because it is 

1. Unity in Diversity. 

2. Visible. 

3. Fruitful. 

4. Growing. 

5. Unchangeable in Character, 




" I am Jesus." 

" And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and 
slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto 
the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus 
to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, 
whether they were men or women, he might bring them 
bound unto Jerusalem. 

And as he journeyed, lie came near Damascus: and 
suddenly there shined round about him a light from 
heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice say- 
ing unto him, ' Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' 

And he said, ' Who art thou, Lord? ' 

And the Lord said, ' I am Jesus whom thou perse- 
cutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.' 

And he trembling and astonished said, ' Lord, what 
wilt thou have me to do? ' 

And the Lord said unto him, 'Arise, and go into the 
city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.' 

And the men which journeyed with him stood speech- 
less, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes 
were opened, he saw no man : but they led him by the 
hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was 
three days without sight, and neither did eat nor 
drink." (Acts, ninth chapter, verses one to nine.) 

70 



I AM JESUS 71 



When the Governor of Egypt declared to the terrified 
brothers, "I am Joseph!" it was no greater surprise 
to them than it was to the mad, raging Saul of Tarsus 
when he saw that Just One and heard His voice. He 
thought he knew Jesus of Nazareth just as Joseph's 
brethren thought they knew the great and stately 
Zaphnath=Paaneah, but did he? 

The following four things Saul learned that day, 
and spent his whole life afterwards in teaching to 
others:— 

I. " I am Jesus — the Living One." 

He became the greatest witness of the resurrection 
of Jesus Christ from the dead. All his reported ser- 
mons and his letters show that he constantly set forth 
this: "Jesus is alive. He died and rose again" — that 
was his gospel — " Jesus and the resurrection " — every- 
where. Jesus was to St. Paul a living, bright reality, 
always near and accessible. 

II. " I am Jesus — the Loving One." 

What saith the answer of God unto him? " It is hard 
for thee to kick against the goads." Not — "I will 
punish thee for this. I will take vengeance upon such 
a persecutor. I will harden your heart and cast you 
down into destruction." A word of gentle sympathy. 
" You are hurting yourself, tearing your own flesh, 
breaking your own heart. I feel for you, for the pain 
and distress you endure. As I love you, I would save 
you from self-inflicted pain. It is of no use to fight 
against the nature of things, you cannot alter that; 



72 SUNDAY TALKS 



cease the foolish, bootless strife." How gracious the 
word to the fierce bigot with the blood of Stephen on 
his raiment, and the letters of Caiaphas in his pocket! 

III. "I am Jesus — the Suffering One." 

It would be a shock to Saul to know that all the 
beating, and stoning, and threatening of the believers 
was in reality a beating, and stoning, and threatening 
of Jesus Christ, but that question " Why persecutest 
thou me?" would teach him all this and much more. 
If you could trace out the effect of this great thought 
upon Paul's mind all through his life, as shown in his 
works and his epistles, you would be much surprised. 

No other writer or speaker of the New Testament 
speaks as he does of the relation between our Lord and 
His people, or shows so clearly how, because they are 
"members of His body," Christians should love and 
help and consider each other in all things, great and 
small. 

IV. "I am Jesus — the Kuling One." 

He appeared to Saul as Master and Lord. The reply 
was, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" In his 
letters Paul calls himself the servant or " bondslave " of 
Jesus Christ. His one idea of life was the loving serv- 
ice of the Savior. He had no idea till then that Jesus 
had any claim upon him for obedience, but when once 
he had learned that He was his Jesus — his Joshua or 
Savior — he could delight to say, "Jesus Christ, who 
loved me and gave Himself for me." He was not dis- 
obedient to the heavenly calling, and probably no single 



I AM JESUS 



73 



even in the history of the, Christian church since the 
resurrection of Christ has so powerfully impressed the 
church and the world as this event of the conversion of 
Saul of Tarsus, to whom it was said, 

" I am Jesus ! " 

But it was an honest and good heart into which that 
word of love and power fell and was received, or it 
would not have thus brought forth a hundredfold. 




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Provoking One Another. 

Galatians 5: 21. 

Children, do you know what St. Paul means? 
Think: do you? Provoking one another means "teas- 
ing one another." Do you know what that means? 
Teasing may begin in fun, but if it goes far or keeps on 
long it will nearly kill that sweet angel with L-O-V-E 
on her forehead, and out of her blood will spring up a 
fierce and fiery dragon called P-R-I-D-E, who will fill 
any home with lamentation, and mourning and woe. 

PROVOKING OR TEASING IS 

I. Cruel. 

It is a bad heart that likes to give pain, and it gets 
worse with the exercise. If your brother has a thin 
skin, why should you make your tongue like a bunch of 
nettles to keep whipping him with ? To try to get other 
people to laugh at your sister, or to frighten her, or to 
make her look or feel unhappy is a cruel trick. We 
ought to try to please one another, and that is more 
manly than to tease. 

Do you think that Jesus Christ ever teased anybody 
in all His life? No; but the devil loves to terrify and 
vex, even when he cannot hurt. 

I saw a boy one day treat a little kitten as he would 
never treat a bulldog. Why? Why don't you tease 



PROVOKING ONE ANOTHER 75 

the big dog as much as the kitten? Shall I tell you 
why? Because you are a coward. 
II. Easy. 

It does not take a clever boy to be a tease. A wasp 
can sting, a goose can hiss, an ass can kick. Those who 
have not great discernment can find out what brother or 
sister does not like. A sneer, a look, a touch, a whisper 
— any one of them can give pain. 

Teasing does not make a great noise either. Very 

horrid unkindness can be don^ behind father's and 

mother's backs, and there may be many hot tears shed 

when nobody sees. It does want a bit of sense and 

knowledge to bind up and heal a broken heart, but to 

cut and kick and crush it may be the work of any 

clown; but it is 

III. Dangeeous. 

1. Those who try to provoke others get hardened and 
wicked hearts. Sin is sure to find them out. They 
will be lowered and made more like the father of all 
murderers if they do his work. 

2. They may make those they tease so angry as to do 
some very wicked thing. All sorts of crimes have re- 
sulted from teasing. Those who provoke others may 
therefore make not only sinners but criminals. When 
you laugh at a boy, or hinder him, or vex him, no one 
can tell where it will end. You may spoil his temper, 
and he may spoil something besides your clothes. 

Learn, and repeat, and remember the application now 
of this short chapter — it is short, polite, and profound — 

PLEASE DO NOT TEASE. 




"Thy Servant." 

"And the child Samuel ministered unto the Loed be- 
fore Eli. 

And the word of the Lord was precious in those 
days; there was no open vision. 

And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid 
down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that 
he could not see; and ere the lamp of Grod went out in 
the temple of the Loed, where the ark of God was, and 
Samuel was laid down to sleep; that the Loed called 
Samuel. And he answered, ' Here am I.' 

And he ran unto Eli, and said, ' Here am I; for thou 
calledst me.' 

And he said, ' I called not; lie down again.' 

And he went and lay down. 

And the Loed called yet again, ' Samuel.' 

And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, ' Here 
am I; for thou didst call me.' 

And he answered, ' I called not, my son; lie down 
again.' 

Now Samuel did not yet know the Loed, neither was 
the word of the Loed yet revealed unto him. 

And the Loed called Samuel again the third time. 

And he arose and went to Eli, and said, ' Here am I; 
for thou didst call me.' 

76 



THY SERVANT 77 



And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the 
child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, ' Go, lie down: 
and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, 
Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.' So Samuel 
went and lay down in his place. 

And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other 
times, ' Samuel, Samuel.' 

Then Samuel answered, ' Speak; for thy servant 
heareth.' " (1 Samuel, third chapter, verses one to ten.) 

When the boy Samuel uttered these words he was 
putting on a yoke — it was an easy yoke, of course, but 
it was the yoke of God. When he said to God, " Thy 
servant," he meant, "My master." It was just the 
same as when Saul, outside the walls of Damascus, who 
had so long been kicking against the goads of the true 
and only Master, Jesus Christ, said for the first time: 

" Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" 

That word "Lord!" placed him under the yoke for 
life; from that moment he was the servant, literally 
" bondsman," of Jesus Christ, as he signs himself in so 
many of his epistles. 

Before this, the little white robed minister in the tab- 
ernacle belonged to God, but he did not yet know God 
as his own Lord and Master; he had not yet heard His 
word to him. Consider: — 

(1) His name, Samuel, which means " God=called= 
for," would always remind him that he was born in 
answer to prayer. 

(2) His residence, God's temple, would constantly 



78 SUNDAY TALKS 

show him that he had been "lent" to God by his father 
and mother that he might wait upon Him as long as he 
lived. 

(3) His little coat, made like a priest's garment, 
though he was not a priest by birth of Aaron's family, 
would remind him of his mother's best efforts, renewed 
every year, to make him God's servant. 

But all this time " he ministered before Eli." He 
was Eli's servant. If he opened or shut the doors, if he 
trimmed the lamp or carried the offerings, Samuel did 
all to please Eli. He never thought of anything be- 
yond that till now. Eli called him " Son," and Samuel 
ran to him and told him every whit, and gave him rev- 
erence. Samuel knew nothing more than God's word 
through another man, but now he says to God, 

" THY SEEVANT ! " 

He steps out to the front for himself, and takes his own 
work from God's hand. 

This is just what we want you to do. Listen to 
God's voice behind and below your teacher's. Remem- 
ber that you, like Samuel, were long ago devoted to the 
service of God, that you, too, have been brought up to 
His temple, every Sabbath at least, for service, so that 
He has a special right to call upon you. The time has 
come when you should answer for yourself. You are 
old enough now to know the Voice of God, and you 
need not be afraid to answer back to the divine call. 
If you are willing to listen further and to obey, say now 
in your heart to God, 



THY SERVANT 



79 



" BEHOLD THY SEEVANT ! " 

He will hear the softest whisper. 

God is longing to find willing ears and willing hearts. 
His service is perfect freedom. You have not under- 
stood the sweet voice perhaps which has been ringing in 
your heart, but now know that it is Christ Himself who 
comes and stands and calls that you may follow Him. 

Recollect, if you are His servant you must 

1 — Have no other master. 

2 — Obey Him in all things. 

3 — Serve Him with others. 




"Give Attendance to Reading." 

1 Timothy 4: 13. 

Paul was a reader himself. In his letter written after 
this to Timothy, he says: "Bring the books, and es- 
pecially the parchments." It is true that Timothy had, 
from his boyhood, known the holy writings, but the 
apostle was anxious that he should still be a reader. 

There are many reasons why boys and girls should 
love reading, and always seek good books. I will now 
mention three of them. 

I. For Companionship. 

A good book is often like a good friend. Those who 
do not love reading may take to gambling, or smoking, 
or worse, for want of society; but those who love read- 
ing can always be in the best society, and never lonely. 
A great man said, " My books are the companions of 
my solitude." 

If you read a noble book over and over again, you 
will drink in the mind and heart of the writer, and 
after that you will not want low companionships. A 
good book is better than any game of chance. 

II. For Information. 

"Read, and you will know!" said one wise mother 
always to the inquiries of her little son, and the habit his 

80 



GIVE ATTENDANCE TO READING 81 

mother taught him, of looking into books for every- 
thing, made him a full man. Those who love knowl- 
edge must be fond of books. In these days, even more 
than in the days of Timothy, all young disciples must 
give attention to reading. 

III. Foe Inspiration. 

Of course the Bible must be read, but there are also 
very many other good books, both of prose and poetry, to 
read, which will elevate and strengthen your mind. 
Some reading defiles and lowers the mind, but books 
of that sort you must shun. We read in the book of 
Acts of a great bonfire of books, and it would be a 
grand thing if the bad books in London and New York 
and other great cities could be brought out and burnt 
up like that, but books of truth and purity must be read 
by all who would have noble and beautiful thoughts. 

I will give you now three directions for reading the 
Word of God:— 

1. Head it Daily. 

Not a day without a line at least. Your regular por- 
tion hide in your heart. Get, if possible, your morning 
and your evening text. Give attention to this reading, 
and keep asking yourself, as you open and close the 
book " Understandest thou what thou readest? " 

2. Kead it on your Knees. 

Nobody will ever understand and delight in the law 
of the Lord who does not read it with prayer. Study 
and thought can never take the place of faith and 



82 SUNDAY TALKS 



prayer. Those who want really to know the will of 
God, and to do it, must say, " Open thou mine eyes 
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." 

3. Eead it Aloud. 

It is surprising how badly many young, and some 
old, people read the Bible when asked to do so aloud. 
You should give attendance to reading in this way for 
the sake of others, as well as for your own sake. Do 
you recollect the text, " Blessed is he that readeth, and 
they that hear the words of this book"? Will you get 
that peculiar blessing if you do not try? 



Anchors — False and True. 

"God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the 
heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, con- 
firmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in 
which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a 
strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold 
upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an 
anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which 
entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerun- 
ner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest 
forever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews, 
sixth chapter, verses seventeen to twenty.) 

You all know what an anchor is like, and what it is 
for. You know what it is made of, and perhaps you 
have seen an old, rusty broken one lying on the sand or 
shingle at the seaside. A broken, castaway anchor 
suggests to some people a great many thoughts. 

Everybody who, like the writer of this epistle, has 
been to sea, knows the value of a good anchor. We 
read in the book of Acts, " They cast four anchors 
out of the stern and wished for the day." Hundreds of 
precious lives have before now depended upon the 
strength of a vessel's anchors. If there were no rocks, 
no storms, no tides, a ship might, perhaps, sail away in 
safety, without an anchor; but every time you see an 

83 



84 SUNDAY TALKS 

anchor you must remember it means danger and need, 
however smooth and pleasant the sea may be just at 
that present moment. 

Because there are storms, rocks, fogs, and shoals, we 
who are voyaging upon the sea of life require a good 
anchor, too, if we are to gain the port at last. 

I. False Anchoes. 

Some voyagers are deceived, and carry only false an- 
chors that are certain to fail in the stress of life's storm. 
Let me tell you what they are, — 

1. Good feelings. 

2. Good works. 

3. Good resolutions. 

4. Good friendships. 

These four anchors are sure to drag and give way 
when the great storms arise. They always have done, 
and they always will. They look very pretty in the 
sunshine, and when all is fine, but they cannot hold 
when heart and flesh fail, and the spirit is overwhelmed. 
Unless David had had something better than these in 
the shape of an anchor, he would never have lived to 
say, " All thy waves and thy billows have gone over 
me." 

II. The Teue Anohoe. 

It is hope. Hope which God has given, and which is 
fixed upon the person and the work of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, who died for us, and now lives again for us in the 
presence of God. 



ANCHORS— FALSE AND TRUE 



85 



Recollect these five things about the true anchor: — 

1. All other anchors go down, this goes up. 

2. All other anchors are made by man, this is God- 
given. 

3. All other anchors may drag and fail, this never. 

4. All other anchors fasten to God's footstool, this to 
His throne. 

5. All other anchors fasten themselves, this is fast- 
ened by the Forerunner within the Veil. 

If you are in the ship of which Jesus is the pilot, the 
Scriptures the compass, Hope the anchor, and Faith the 
cable, however you may be tossed and driven, you will 
never be wrecked or become a castaway on the voyage 
of life. 





Spoilers. 

" And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of 
the Lord, and served Baalim. 

And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, 
which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and fol- 
lowed other gods, of the gods of the people that were 
round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, 
and provoked the Lord to anger, and they forsook the 
Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, 
and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that 
spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their 
enemies round about, so that they could not any longer 
stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went 
out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as 
the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto 
them: and they were greatly distressed. 

Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which deliv- 
ered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them." 
(Judges, second chapter, verses eleven to sixteen.) 

An old preacher used to be very fond of the text, 
" Beware lest any man spoil you," and he could speak 
very strongly indeed about " a spoilt man " — not a spoilt 
picture, or palace, but a spoilt man. 

You have sometimes seen that very ugly thing, and 

86 



SPOILERS 87 

that very unhappy thing, a spoilt child. If there is one 
such here, I am very sorry for him, and for all who live 
in the same house; but there are some boys and girls 
that are worse than spoilt children, they are spoilers. 
They do harm to others, and it is of such I want to 
speak from this one word. Think what damage these 
spoilers do. 

I. They Spoil Clothes. 

Their own by bad usage, and others whenever they 
can. Their caps they throw about; their shoes they 
soak in water, snow, or mud; their coats or dresses they 
tear and rub to pieces. Every mother knows which of 
the boys and girls is the greatest spoiler in the house. 
Books, too, and toys, and everything they handle they 
manage to spoil — so they are like the locusts wherever 
they come, This matter, however, is the least I shall 
mention. 

II. They aee Spoilees of Speech. 

Their own words are rough, and perhaps slangy, and, 
alas! sometimes false or vile, so that they are sure to 
spoil the speech of others by teaching them evil ways of 
talking. They not only break down and spoil the Eng- 
lish language, but they spoil the fair, honest, pure 
speech of their companions and friends, and it is often 
very easy to distinguish the effect of one such spoiler in 
a family or even in a school — one sinner destroyeth 
much good. Behold, how great matter a little fire 
kindleth. 

If they are cross and spiteful, they soon set others by 



88 SUNDAY TALKS 



III. They Spoil Good Tempees. 

the ears. If they are selfish, they are sure to make kind 
and generous companions suspicious. If they are jeal- 
ous they make happy, simple=hearted people miserable. 
Before now a whole room full of happy playmates has 
been turned into a weeping=place by one of these spoil- 
ers coming, and even a schoolroom or a dormitory has 
seemed like a prison or place of torture by the presence 
of a single spoiler. Everybody could be happy without 
them, but none could be happy with them. 

IV. They Spoil Good Looks. 

Surely sad children, with knitted brows and pouting 
lips, cannot be as pretty as those with beaming smiles 
and happy, sparkling eyes. Besides, bad words, bad 
thoughts, deceit, passion, anger, envy, variance, all 
somehow get written on the face and make the counten- 
ance dark. " Goodly to look to " is the picture of one 
who is good. An evil eye and a proud look God hates. 

V. They Spoil Habits. 

A good habit is worth more than rubies, but some are 
bad enough to be spoilers of these. The habits of early 
rising, obedience, prayer, industry, have all been spoiled 
before now by one bad companion. 

" Before Charlie came to see us," mother says, " George 
used to help me in every way, and used to be so kind 
and thoughtful for his sister, and used to be so quiet 
and gentle in the house, but it is all changed now!" 
Yes, because Charlie is a spoiler; that's the reason. 



SPOILERS 



89 



Boys and girls, don't be spoilers, like these heathens 
in the lesson. Be helpers, keepers, saviors. Make oth- 
ers better, not worse. To spoil is to do the work of that 
enemy who got into Eden; to save is to follow in the 
footsteps of the Son of God. 




Fight for the Right. 

"In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of 
Jndah, came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, unto 
Jerusalem, and besieged it. 

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into 
his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: 
which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of 
his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure 
house of his god. 

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his 
eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of 
Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; chil- 
dren in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and 
skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and 
understanding science, and such as had ability in them 
to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might 
teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 

And the king appointed them a daily provision of the 
king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nour- 
ishing them three years, that at the end thereof they 
might stand before the king. 

Now among these were the children of Judah, 
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not 
defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor 

90 



FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT 91 

with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested 
of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile 
himself. 

Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender 
love with the prince of the eunuchs. 

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, 'I 
fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat 
and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse 
liking than the children which are of your sort? then 
shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.' 

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the 
eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and 
Azariah, 'Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; 
and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink, 
then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, 
and the countenance of the children that eat of the por- 
tion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy 
servants.' 

So he consented to them in this matter, and proved 
them ten days. 

And at the end of ten days their countenances ap- 
peared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children 
which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and 
the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge 
and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had 
understanding in all visions and dreams." (Daniel, first 
chapter, verses one to seventeen.) 



92 SUNDAY TALKS 



The story of young Daniel's loyalty to conscience 
ought to make many heroes to-day, Consider, — 

I, The Hero Himself. 

A captive boy — probably an orphan — in a strange 
land, beautiful, gifted, educated, a graduate in science, 
tenderly nurtured, probably of royal David's blood. As 
much alone as any boy going forth to school or college, 
and almost certainly regarded with envy by the native 
race. There he is at court, to be treated as the king's 
son, and to be fed from his table. What a chance for 
pride to assert itself, and for Daniel to gain the whole 
world ! It lay before him as it did before Moses when 
he saw the treasures in Egypt and the pleasures of sin. 

Consider next 

* II. The Battle He Fought. 

( 1 ) With pride. It was a great thing to have such a 
chance of honor; to be selected for such society and po- 
sition; and especially to such a clever youth, for such 
training; but so loyal was his heart to God that he was 
ready to forego them all rather than do wrong. " Daniel 
'purposed in his heart " to stand alone — to stand down, 
to go back to his obscurity and captivity rather than 
soil his conscience. How long he had prayed in secret 
for such courage and strength we may imagine. 

(2) With taste. Certainly the dainties of Nebu- 
chadnezzar's table were not to be despised, especially 
by a young prince; and when it is recollected how 
strong was the ancient opinion that good living and 
wine tend to physical and mental development, no 



FIGHT FOR THE MGHT 92 

doubt Daniel would be subject to severe temptation and 
much ridicule and a great deal of persuasion in refer- 
ence to his resolve, but he stood firm in his heart 
against the lust of the flesh, as he had done against the 
lust of the eye and the pride of life. But there was 
another difficulty in his way: he had to struggle 

(3) With love, and probably this was the hardest of 
all. God had brought Daniel into favor and tender 
love with the chief man of the court, the master and 
prince of the officers. As he had shown Daniel such 
special favor, it must have been a painful thing for 
the lad to have to set himself in opposition to such a 
great man's authority and wishes. However, it is clear 
that he boldly spoke of the matter, and it went so far 
as for that great official to declare to the youth that it 
seemed as if he would rather sacrifice his friend's head 
than give up his scruples; and it seems he dismissed 
the matter, for Daniel then went to Melzar, the attend- 
ant, and negotiated the terms of a temporary experi- 
ment. Only those who have had, for conscience sake, 
to bring distress to loving but prejudiced friends, can 
understand what this battle cost young Daniel's sensi- 
tive heart. However, look at 

III. The Victory God gave Him. 

(1) He kept a clear conscience and an undefiled 
body. 

Such a jewel in such a casket is, in the sight of God, 
of great price, and is not secured by any without sacri- 
fice. That a fairer countenance should follow fellowship 



94 . SUNDAY TALKS 



with God is natural, that a "fatter " face should follow 
a pulse and water diet was, by the special mercy of 
heaven to all parties concerned, in answer to prayer. 

(2) His faith saved and strengthened his three 
young companions. 

Had Daniel failed in that test, the world had never 
heard of the burning, fiery furnace, and of those who 
quenched the violence of fire by their faith. The 
leader of this class of four is afterwards addressed by 
an angel as, " O man greatly beloved!" 

(3) They four took the highest places at Court. 
This brought great honor and joy to Ashpenaz, who 

had loved Daniel so well, and very great advantage 
to the State, for the king did not keep these near him 
because they were fair or good, but because they were 
worth to him ten times more than all the other men he 
could get. Remember, 

1. High thinking and low living go hand in hand. 

2. He who would fight for God and man must first 
conquer self. 

3. Daniel might be photographed for a likeness of 
Wisdom — despised and rejected of men, but afterwards 
seen " in her right hand length of days and in her left 
hand riches and honor." 

4. Come into Daniel's band to-day. 



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" A Present for Esau." 

Genesis 32: 13. 

Wise Jacob not only prayed to God for help, but did 
his best to turn away the fury of his angry brother, 
Esau, whom he had wronged. The girl who prays for 
help in learning her lessons, and does not take pains 
and try hard to do her best, is probably breaking that 
strange command, " Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy 
God." We must pray as if we could do nothing, and 
we must act as if we have never prayed at all. 

Presents are generally pleasant to receive, and some- 
times they are pleasant to give. It is a poor, selfish 
life in which there are no gifts, especially between 
brothers and sisters, or no gifts in the interests of 
peace and goodness. 

There are three kinds of presents : — 

T. A Present that Yott give for Your 
own Sake. 

" If I don't give him something, I shall not get a 
present when my birthday comes," says one boy. 

"Perhaps I shall want him to do me a favor some 
day, so now I will send him a gift in good time." 

This lively expectation of favors to come is a mean 
reason for making a present. To give a dollar with the 
hope of getting two back R^ain, can scarcely be called 

95 



96 SUNDAY TALKS 



kindness. " Looking for nothing again " is the Savior's 
rule for making a gift, and this alone makes it golden 
before God or man. 

II. A Present that You make for the Sake 
of Others. 

This is of a much better quality. It is a good sign 
when we plan and try to give pleasure to others. It 
may be a gift of civility, a sort of compliment, as the 
bracelets and earrings given to Rebecca, or the spices, 
nuts, and almonds to Joseph, or the silver coin to 
Samuel, or the bread and wine and kid to Saul. Or it 
may be a gift of charity. But anyhow, as a mark of 
though tfulness for others, it has a beauty of its own. 
To send, like Jacob here, a gift to pacify and turn away 
the passion of an angry man, is a token of wisdom as 
well as of kindness. To prevent sin by a sweet and 
timely gift, out of a pure desire to save one's neighbor 
from evil, is truly ChrisHike. To pass by and meddle 
with strife is like taking a dog by the ears, but to 
divert and engross the attention of the angry or snarl- 
ing dog, till some disliked object has crossed his path, 
is a more excellent way. A gift in secret pacifieth an- 
ger, and a reward in the bosom turns away wrath. 

But the wisest and best gift of all is, 

III. A Present that you make for Christ's Sake. 

He is the Lord of love, and perhaps your present is 
prepared with the hope of increasing or making love 
manifest. It is well. He desires peace, and for its 



A FRESJENT FOU ESAV 97 

sweet sake you present your gift — it is as incense before 
Him. 

A gift for Christ's sake that people may think well of 
Him, and do Him reverence, and come to be His dis- 
ciples, is precious indeed. Many a heart has been won 
for His service, by those who have carried a present, 
perhaps to the sick, for His sake. Mary's precious oint- 
ment has led multitudes to look at, and trust in, and 
love the Savior. So, carefully-given presents to the 
careless and worldly have often predisposed them to 
listen to those who would speak for Him. " A man's 
gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before 
great men." If you know how to go about it you may, 
by a wise gift, get a chance of introduction to someone 
that nobody else can speak to Jesus about. Pray for 
wisdom to see, and strength to do kind things to unlike- 
ly people, and some day you will be glad you have read 

this. 

Lesson. 

1. Be strictly honest, but if God gives you a chance 
of making a present, however small, never neglect it. 

2. Recollect it is more blessed to give than to receive. 

3. Know, and tell others, that kind echoes can never 
come before kind words and deeds. 




» Why do Ye not Rather take Wrong?" 

" Dare any of you, having a matter against another, 
go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? 
and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye un- 
worthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not 
that we shall judge angels? how much more things that 
pertain to this life? 

If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to 
this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in 
the church. 

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a 
wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to 
judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law 
with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, be- 
cause ye go to law with one another. Why do ye not 
rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer your- 
selves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, 
and that your brethren." (First Corinthians, sixth 
chapter, verses one to eight.) 

These people at Corinth did exactly what most people 
in this country do to-day — they tried to overcome evil 
with evil. They had not learned Christ's rule of suffer- 
ing patiently, or the Christian's secret of a life of peace. 

98 



WHY DO YE NOT RATHER TAKE WRONG 99 

When anyone attacked them they gave him as much 
again; if someone wronged them they were determined 
to have their rights. 

Now, this bad for bad, and resistance of injuries, and 
a kick for a blow was exactly opposite to the law and 
the life of Christ. When He was reviled, He reviled 
not again. As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so 
He opened not His mouth. What Paul asked these 
men and women at Corinth, let me ask you: — Why do 
ye not rather take wrong? I will tell you why you do 
not! 

I. Because it is not Pleasant. 

Nobody likes to be teased, and hurt, and cheated; to 
be laughed at, or pushed about, especially by those who 
have no right whatever to do it. 

But which is the most important, my feelings, or 
other people's improvement and the honor of God? If 
I get in a passion with a boy, and rail at him and strike 
him, I may make a bad temper worse, and may awaken 
bitter wrath and strife in my own heart. I had better 
bear a blow on the arm, or a poke in the ribs, or a sneer, 
or a bitter word, than have an evil passion aroused in 
my nature, which may make me wretched another day, 
or do that which God hates and forbids. Said a great 
soldier to a young man who had insulted him, " If I 
could wipe off your blood from my conscience as easily 
as I can wipe off this dirt from my clothes, sir, I would 
run you through with this sword." Better suffer any- 
thing than sin, or make others do so. 



100 SUNDAY TALKS 



II. YOU THINK IT WON'T PAY. 

" If I don't punish that boy for laughing at me, he will 
do it again," you say. But he is really far more likely to 
do it, or to get others to do it, if you punish him. " Take 
no notice " is generally the best rule. Peace-makers 
are, as a rule, the patient nomfighters, and it is wonder- 
ful how few boys will attack those who leave others 
alone, The boys who get most teased are the impatient 
and irritable, who fly into a passion if they are only just 
touched, and who want to have their own way. To get 
your own way, the best plan is to care nothing about it. 

III. You say, " Othees don't do so." 

Of course, they do not pretend to follow and obey the 
Lord Jesus Christ, but you do. That makes all the 
difference, you see. As you are His servant you must 
obey His commands. His command is, " Love one 
another "'! Love worketh no ill, endureth all things. 
Remember who spake these words, " I say unto you, 
Resist not evil." Did He not know the best plan of 
overcoming evil, and the sure way of increasing it? " If 
my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants 
fight," He told Pilate, but He would have chosen a dif- 
ferent sort of servants, and given them a different train- 
ing. 

If you want to save yourself and others from sin, you 
had better take wrong from others than render it again, 
and even when buffetted without fault, if you take it 
patiently, it is good and acceptable to God, 



WHY DO YE NOT RATHER TAKE WRONG 101 

IV. But the Great Reason is, you get Angey. 

If you had a heart without anger, so that you really 
felt only the touch on your body, you would not often 
want to revenge yourself; and let me add, if you saw 
the sin of those who did the wrong, as Jesus did, you 
would pray, "Father, forgive them," instead of wanting 
to hit them back and only make them more miserable. 

Please recollect these things when you are teased, or 
wronged, or badly hurt: — 

1. It wants more courage to be patient and to bear 
injury quietly, than it does to strike back, and give way 
to spite and temper. 

2. God will take the part of those who leave their 
wrongs in His hands. The quiet and gentle spirit can 
say, "Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God," or 
"O, Lord, I am oppressed; undertake thou for me." 

3. Those who follow in Christ's footsteps, out of love 
for Him, and who thus surfer with Him, shall share His 
throne. 




A Good Habit. 

" He took bread, and gave thanks to God in pres- 
ence of them all: and when he had broken it, he be- 
gan to eat." (Acts, twentpseventh chapter, verse 
thirty- five.) 

Nearly everybody asks a blessing or gives thanks be- 
fore or after eating sometimes, but unless it is a constant 
and fixed habit with us we may forget and omit it just 
when it is most important. When Dr. Adam Clarke 
sat at the Royal table, he rose to acknowledge his 
Master before King George of England, and it was be- 
cause St. Paul invariably gave thanks to God at the 
table that in this time of excitement he did not forget 
or fear to do so on board that disabled ship, as St. Luke 
specially says, " in the presence of them all." 

We should sit down to the table praising God for 
these reasons:— 

I. All our food is from God's hand, 

Wonderful, is it not, that such different things should 
all come out of the ground? that such different tastes 
should be provided for us? The kindly fruits of the 
earth are not forbidden, but we may eat, and live, and 
enjoy them all. 

102 



A GOOD HABIT 103 



II. We might be in danger, if we forgot 
God, of loving our food too well. 

Those who give God thanks will not eat anything 
bad, because they know that their bodies are the 
temples of the Holy Ghost, and must be kept pure and 
strong for Him. They will not eat greedily, but will 
think of others, seeing that God has been so kind and 
good to them. They will not be over nice, remember- 
ing that what God hath cleansed they may not call 
common. 

III. Those who sing praise to God at 

TABLE WILL NOT GRUMBLE. 

A merry heart, at table especially, does good, like a 
medicine. To frown, and sulk, and grumble, and 
quarrel over your food is both a sin and a blunder. 
Then every laugh, according to the old proverb, length- 
ens life. " They were all of good cheer," and so people 
ought to be when they take their meat from God, and 
give Him thanks. It is the happy, cheery folks who 
gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost. 

IV. Those who give thanks at table see 

a picture of Jesus three or four 

times a day. 

Not only because He blessed when He brake bread, 
and so set Paul and all the rest of us so sweet an ex- 
ample, but because bread is the chosen likeness of Him- 
self which lies on every table. " I am the Bread of 
Life, the Living Bread, the Bread of God," He says. 



104 



SUNDAY TALKS 



Think of Him, the Life of men, and feed on Him in 
your hearts by faith with thanksgiving. 

If you had a fine painting of the Last Supper, it 
could not help you better to remember Him than the 
loaf of bread on the table does, for that also is the gift 
of God, and the very thing He gave to the multitude in 
the desert place, as well as the apostles in the supper 
room, as a picture of Himself. 

Always say grace, and if you can, sing thanks, not 
only for yourself but for all the creatures whose wants 
God's open hand supplies, and not for bare bread alone, 
but for Jesus, and for every word that proceedeth out of 
the mouth of God. 





A Link in God's Chain 

"And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named 
Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, 'Ana- 
nias.' 

And he said, ' Behold, I am here, Lord.' 

And the Lord said unto him, ' Arise, and go into the 
street which is called Straight, and inquire in the 
house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, be- 
hold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man 
named Ananias, coming in, and putting his hand on 
him, that he might receive his sight.' 

Then Ananias answered, ' Lord, I have heard by 
many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy 
saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from 
the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.' 

But the Lord said unto him, \ Go thy way: for he is 
a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the 
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I 
will show him how great things he must suffer for my 
name's sake.' 

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the 
house; and putting his hands on him said, 'Brother 
Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in 
the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou might- 
est receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy 
Ghost.' 

105 



103 SUNDAY TALKS 



And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had 
been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, 
and was baptized." (Acts, ninth chapter, verses ten to 
eighteen.) 

Between the work of the glorious Son of God and 
that of Paul the apostle, there comes the gentle minis- 
try of the quiet and almost unknown Ananias of Da- 
mascus. He may be called, if not the Great, at any 
rate the Good Ananias, to distinguish him from others 
of that time. What do we know of him, and what may 
we learn from him? 

I. He was a man who lived close to God. 

God spoke to him in a vision, and he replied as 
though he were used to the speech of heaven. He was 
one fit to be sent on errands for God. He was one to 
be trusted with heaven's secrets. You hear people now 
and then say: 

" Such a man or woman will be great some day, has 
a mission, is born to a great destiny." 

How do they know? Perhaps, like Ananias, they 
hear the secrets of the skies. He could tell, if he would, 
the future course of Paul's life. He was a man without 
jealousy or revenge; he went to baptise the Apostle of 
the Gentiles, and called the man who came to bind and 
banish him, "brother." 

II. Ananias was well spoken of among men. 

This is expressly stated, and those who have a good 
reputation should consider it as a talent to be used for 



A LINK IN GOD'S CHAIN 107 

God. Had this good man been one who was disliked 
and looked on with suspicion, he would not have been 
a fitting messenger in this case, for no doubt his action 
would be strongly criticised afterwards by the Jews, 
both in Damascus and Jerusalem. Those who objected 
to Peter speaking to Cornelius, would certainly be 
offended by Ananias being the first of the brethren in 
Damascus to give the right hand of fellowship to Saul. 
Let us learn, — 

1. Those who have a special duty are given plain 
directions. 

2. Those who have a special duty find the way all 
clearly prepared. Saul had heard the name of his 
friend and teacher before he came. 

3. The greatest work for God is often done in private. 
The house of Judas, in Straight Street, Damascus, was 
the scene of an event which has influenced the thought 
and life of the world till now. 

4. The greatest men of the church are often saved by 
the ministry of the obscure ones. Paul was not bap- 
tised by an apostle or a bishop. God often honors local 
preachers and cottage services. 

5. Some prejudice or fear may be in our mind against 
those we are afterwads to be the means of helping. 




What flakes a Man into a Prophet? 

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the 
Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up ; and his 
train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim: 
each one had six wings ; with twain he covered his face, 
and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he 
did fly. 

And one cried unto another, and said, 'Holy, holy, 
holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his 
glory." 

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him 
that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 

Then said I, ' Woe is me ! for I am undone ; because I 
am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a 
people of unclean lips : for mine eyes have seen the King, 
the Lord of hosts.' 

Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live 
coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs 
from off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth, and 
said, 'Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity 
is taken away, and thy sin purged.' 

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ' Whom 
shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then said I, 
'Here am I; send me.' 

And he said, ' Go, and tell this people, Hear ye in- 

108 



WHAT MAKES A MAN INTO A PROPHET? 109 

deed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but per- 
ceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make 
their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with 
their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand 
with their heart, and convert, and be healed.' 

Then said I, 'Lord, how long?' And he answered, 
' Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the 
houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 
and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be 
a great forsaking in the midst of the land.'" (Isaiah, 
sixth chapter, verses one to twelve.) 

Both Isaiah and Jeremiah appear to have been called 
to the work of God in their youth. We only read in 
the Bible of one " old prophet," and he is no credit to 
the fellowship. This chapter shows how God changed 
a priest into a prophet in a single day. Education and 
training may make youths into tolerable ministers and 
preachers, but a true prophet must have his call and his 
qualification from heaven. Here you may see, as in a 
glass, a pattern case of prophet^making. This young 
man had 

I. A Sight of God's Sovereignty. 

To see clearly that God is really on the throne of the 
universe, a true and living King and Ruler, is the very 
foundation of a true prophet's call. Any indefiniteness 
here will be followed by some inclifferentism as to the 
conduct or the future of others. No man can be a 
true prophet who does not see and feel that "The 
Lord is King over all the earth." 



110 SUNDAY TALKS 



II. A Sight of God's Holiness. 
The false prophet, Mahomet, saw and taught that God 
lived and ruled, but he did not know that He is holy. 
How solemnly this is shown to Isaiah ! See the sacred 
messengers of fire; notice their faces veiled as if with a 
double scarf; hear their solemn voices each to the other; 
think of the trembling pillars of the temple responding 
to their cry, and the cloud of incense smoke which 
veiled both the throne and the seraphs, and made the 
prophet feel that he was still outside the holy place! 

III. A Conviction of his own Sin. 
All true messengers of God have had to cry over their 
own pollution, and, like Job, that perfect man, to abhor 
themselves when they have seen God's holiness. " I am 
dumb; my lips are unclean, because my inmost heart is 
vile; all the men I have ever known, though cleansed 
and robed as the priests in the temple, breath out un- 
holiness. Holy and pure is God alone." "The sin of 
the world" can never be known, except to those who 
see the King, the Lord of Hosts — the Holy One. 

IV. A Baptism of Fire. 
Made conscious of sin in his very words of holy serv- 
ice, he has the seal of purity placed on his lips, and the 
tongue of fire put within him. This was through the 
altar, for blood and fire represent atonement and cleans- 
ing. The seraph was only the minister to convey the 
grace which was not in his own hand, but through the 
orffering upon the altar and the Wod of God spoken and 
believed. 



WHAT MAKES A MAN INTO A PROPHET? Ill 

V. A Plain Call to the Work of his- Life. 

As soon as the cleansing fire entered the man's heart, 
he could hear the voice of God and not merely the ser- 
aph's. He learned that God longed, through human 
agency, to save men, and he was able to present himself 
a living sacrifice for God's service. 

His lips being cleansed, he could speak with boldness 
to God Himself. The tongue of fire is the organ of 
prayer as well as of prophecy and of praise. 

The call was (1) Plain: "Go." (2) Definite, to 
"this people." (3) LifeAong, while there is a man to 
city, house, or country. (4) Encouraging, because of 
the power of "the holy seed," which is the Word of God. 

Learn: 

1. In God's house anyone may see visions, hear voi- 
ces, and receive grace and gifts for holy work. 

2. In a time of national and political despondency, 
when some great king or leader dies, we may look for 
men of power to be called to the work of God. 



I AM THE €000 
SHEPHERD; 
THE GOOD SHEPHEBD 

GIVETH HiS 
LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. 

John x. 11, 




11& HATH GOD 

EXALTED 

WITH HIS RIGHT HAND TO 

BE A PRINCE AND 

A SAVIOUR, FOR TO 

GIVE REPENTANCE 

TO ISRAEL, 

AND" FORGIVENESS 

OF SINS. 




The Bush and the Book. 

"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-indaw, 
the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back 
side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, 
even to Horeb. 

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a 
flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, 
and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush 
was not consumed. 

And Moses said, ' I will now turn aside, and see this 
great sight, why the bush is not burnt.' 

And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, 
God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and 
said, ' Moses, Moses.' And he said, ' Here am I.' 

And He said, ' Draw not nigh hither: put off thy 
shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou 
standest is holy ground.' 

Moreover He said, ' I am the God of thy father, the 
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of 
Jacob.' And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to 
look upon God." (Exodus, third chapter, verses one to 
six.) 

God was pleased to reveal Himself to Moses through 
the bush. He can use any agency He thinks best — • 

113 



114 SUNDAY TALKS 



lowly or majestic — and can put Divinity into union and 
fellowship with ordinary and common things. He who 
revealed Himself and called to one man from the leaves 
of a little shrub once, speaks now to multitudes through 
the leaves of that Book which is the Tree of Life for the 
healing of the nations. 
Notice : — 

I. The Fiee of God did not Consume the Bush. 

The Bible is as human and natural as any other book, 
but God is there. Its words are spirit and life. The 
Word, the Name of God, is the authority in it. 

II. The Fire of God aeoused intense Curiosity. 

See Moses pacing round and round the shrub with 
much wonder and intense curiosity, forgetting for a 
time even the claims of his flock ! 

The Book of God is full of. wonders calculated to 
arouse inquiry and most diligent investigation. Alas! 
folly and sin hold so many people's eyes that they do 
not search out the mysteries of the Scripture. 

III. The Man who gave Time to Enquire and 

CONSIDER HEARD A VOICE. 

We read, "When God saw that he turned aside to 
see." How many hundreds of times in the history of 
the world has God appeared and called in vain, because 
no man regarded ! They knew not the time of their vis- 
itation, and so He could neither do nor say mighty 
things because of unbelief. 

The Book has no voice for the careless or superficial, 



THE BUSH AND THE BOOK 115 

but by those who draw near to read and understand in 
the spirit of Moses a voice is heard. The Bible is a 
talking book — the Voice of the Lord — the living God 
still. 

IV. The Voice from the Bush was " Come near, 

BUT NOT TOO NEAE!" 

If Moses had gone poking in that burning bush with 
his shepherd's crook, it would have been just what some 
so-called Bible students have been doing lately. Those 
who do not want their sight consumed by that fire must 
reverently remember, in all their researches and criti- 
cisms, the voice, " Draw not nigh hither," lest profess- 
ing themselves wise they become fools. In Scripture 
as well as in Nature, God has His secrets; other things 
besides times and seasons the Father has put in His 
own power. 

V. Bare Feet as well as a Covered Face befit 

those who Stand before God. 

An old proverb says, " To him who wears a shoe it is 
as though the whole earth were covered with leather." 
Self-sufficiency and artificial advantages are to be laid 
aside before God. Moses and the greatest scholar must 
stand, in the presence of divine things, on a level with 
all others — barefoot. There is "holy ground" around 
the Book as well as "the bush." Those who have come 
to hear their own names spoken by God have usually 
approached the study of His Word upon their knees; 



116 SUNDAY TALKS 



and personal revelation always precedes authority and 
ability to enlighten and deliver others. 
Therefore, 

1. Recognise the Divine oracles. 

The chiefest advantage and profit of the Jew was that 
he possessed the oracles of God. 

2. Reverence the Divine oracles. 

Well may there be no answer in the Word of God to 
those who degrade and pull to pieces the earthly medi- 
um in which it has pleased God to put His heavenly 
treasure of power. 
3. Pray that in you, as in Moses after that sight, the 

Word of God may dwell. 
Moses himself became a burning bush — the living 
epistle — God's child of light. If you hold communion 
long and close with the Truth, you will be likewise bap- 
tised, and have a shining countenance, and a tongue 
powerful for good as a flame of fire. 



«* Because he believed in his God." 

"It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred 
and twenty princes, which should be over the whole 
kingdom; and over these three presidents, of whom 
Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts 
unto them, and the king should have no damage 

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents 
and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him. 
And the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occa- 
sion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they 
could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was 
faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in 
him. 

Then said these men, ' We shall not find any occasion 
against this Daniel, except we find it against him con- 
cerning the law of his God.' 

Then these presidents and princes assembled together 
to the king, and said thus unto him, 

'King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the 
kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsel- 
lors, and the captains, have consulted together to estab- 
lish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that who- 
soever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty 

117 



118 SUNDAY TALKS 



days, save of thee, king, he shall be cast into the den 
of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign 
the writing, that it be not changed, according to the 
law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.' 

Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the 
decree. 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, 
he went into his house; and, his windows being open in 
his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his 
knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks 
before his God, as he did aforetime. 

Then these men assembled, and found Daniel pray- 
ing and making supplication before his God. 

Then they came near, and spake before the king con- 
cerning the king's decree; 

1 Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that 
shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty 
days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of 
lions?' 

The king answered and said, ' The thing is true, ac- 
cording to the law of the Medes and Persians, which 
altereth not. ' 

Then answered they and said before the king, ' That 
Daniel which is of the children of the captivity of Ju- 
dah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that 
thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a 
day.' 

Then the king, when he heara these words, was sore 
displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to 



BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN HIS GOD 119 

deliver him: and lie labored till the going down of the 
sun to deliver him. 

Then these men assembled unto the king, and said 
unto the king, ' Know, O king, that the law of the 
Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which 
the king establisheth may be changed.' 

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, 
and cast him into the den of lions. 

Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, ' Thy God, 
whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.' 

And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of 
the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and 
with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not 
be changed concerning Daniel. 

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the 
night fasting: neither were instruments of music 
brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and 
went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he 
came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice 'unto 
Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, 

' O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, 
whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from 
the lions?' 

Then said Daniel unto the king, ' O king, live for 
ever. My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the 
lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch 
as before him innocency was found in me; and also 
before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.' 

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and com- 



120 SUNDAY TALKS 



manded that they should take -Daniel up out of the den. 
So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of 
hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his 
God." (Daniel, sixth chapter, verses one to twenty^ three.) 

" Because he believed in his God" This text is the 
jewel of the lesson. I want you to look at it very clear- 
ly. The whole secret of Daniel's strange life is told you 
here. Why he prayed when he was threatened with 
death it is easy to see, and why he dared to stand alone. 
He did not know that his faith would stop the mouths 
of lions, but he did know that he was perfectly safe in 
the strong and faithful hands of God, whether to live or 
to die. 

See in this story — 

I. Faith in God makes us brave. 

Daniel would have been just as afraid of the hungry 
lions as anyone else, only 'the fear of God destroyed all 
other fear, and the love of God was stronger than the 
love of honor or of life. When the eye is fixed on God, 
nothing else looks big, and armies of men are of no 
more consequence than swarms of flies. 

II. Faith in God makes us different from 
Others. 

You are quite certain, if anyone is just like every- 
body else, and talks and acts in everything just in the 
fashion, that such a person is not walking with God. 
Daniel was different from others, and so they hated 
him. 

You will often have to stand alone if you resolve to 



BECA USE HE BELIE VED IN HIS GOD 1.21 

obey God first in everything. Perhaps it is a pity, but 
you must be willing to be singular if you are to go to 
heaven. 

III. Faith in God keeps us from all Evil. 

Not from all trouble, that is very plain; but loss and 
trouble, and suffering even, are sometimes our true 
good. 

Suppose Daniel had been torn and devoured by the 
lions, would that prove that God did not care for him? 
Certainly not. See Paul beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, 
and at last beheaded! Had his faith failed? In no 
wise. If the angel that stopped the lions' mouths had 
been commissioned instead to bear Daniel's soul into 
Paradise, we should not have had this story to read in 
the Bible, but a little later in our history we should 
have heard, when " the Books " were opened, how, like 
John the Baptist, he was more than a conqueror through 
Him that loved him. 

There are people who suffer far worse things than dy- 
ing. It is not half so bad for a boy to die or lose 
money because he fears and obeys God, as it is for him 
to speak a lie or do an unholy deed because he does not 
believe that God sees and will surely punish him. 
Daniel's faith kept him alive, but it did far more; it did 
what Joseph's did — it kept him from sinning against 
God in the hour of trial. 

Remember — 

1. The only safe way through life is the path of faith. 
Believe on Jesus Christ, and you shall conquer. 



122 SUNDAY TALKS 



2. Daniel's prayers, three times a day, explain, in a 
large degree, trie secret of his powerful faith. Those 
who stop praying will not long keep on believing. 

3. Satan is always trying to make it hard for us to 
pray regularly in secret. There will soon be no heroes 
of faith if people of the present age do not take care 
and follow Daniel to his secret chamber. 



Reader 



If you have been benefited by read- 
ing this book, will you not assist us 
in our desire to distribute good religious reading? 
Send fifteen cents and a copy will be mailed to any 
address, postpaid. Send $1.00 and we will send, post- 
paid, ten copies to one address or to separate addresses. 
Address 

The Bible Institute Colportage Association, 

250 La Salle Ave., Chicago. 



The Col portage Library 

A series of books selected and edited with the greatest 
care. Paper and printing of first-rate quality. About 128 
pages in each. By leading authors, such as Spurgeon, 
Moody, Whittle, Chapman, Talmage, McNeill, Parker, 
Meyer, etc. Most of the numbers are copyright works. 
In attractive paper covers. Single numbers 15c, two 
for 25c, postpaid. 

THE BIBLE INSTITUTE COLPORTAGE ASSOCIATION, 

250 LA SALLE AVE., CHICAGO. 
EAST NORTHFIELD, MASS. 140 Y0NGE ST., TORONTO. 



No. I — AH of Grace. By C. H. Spurgeon. An earnest 

word with those who are seeking salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. 

"Every word is weighted with precious truth, and truth so simply and 
convincingly put that none can fail to understand God's way of salvation. 
Powerful illustrations, apt and original similes, and the affectonate desire to 
wiu for Christ and to Christ, make it a gospel treasury of priceless worth."— 
The Christian. 

No. 2— The Way to God, and How to Find It. By D. 

L. Moody. Chapters to meet the special needs of different classes of in- 
quirers, and for backsliders. Over 385,000 copies sold. 

"It puts the way so plainly that 'he who runs may read.' "—The Religious 
Telescope. 

"Full of pathos, point and power. Cannot fail to be the means of quicken- 
ing and blessing wherever read."— The Methodist. 

No. 3 — Pleasure and Profit in Bible Study. By D. L. 

Moody. The first edition of 25, 000 sold out within six months. 

"Here are sixteen chapters containing the very best things Mr. Moody has 
ever said about the best of books. It is full of suggestions."— The Central 
Baptist. 

"No one can read it without being strengthened in his faith, if he be a 
Christian. If he be not a Christian, there is hardly anywhere a better book 
for him to read."— The Herald and Presbyter. 

"Put it into the hands of your young friends." — Farm, Field and Fireside. 

"Fresh, bright, and deeply devotional, and helpful especially to young 
people of the Christian E)ndeavor."— Sunday School Quarterly. 

No. 4— Life, Warfare and Victory. By D. W. Whittle. 

Life imparted by God through faith in Jesus Christ; warfare wi*,h enemies, 

within and without; victory 'through Him that loved us.' 

"A thoroughly characteristic book by a man evidently on fire with holy 

enthusiasm."— Christian Leader. 

"The solid ground-work of every chapter is the word of God. A splendid 

contrast to much of the un-Scriptural theorizing of the times."— Herald and 

Presbyter. 

"The author has written a book which will be found of immense service 

to those seeking after truth or who have just embraced the Gospel of Christ." 



The Colportage Library 

No. 5 — Heaven: Where it is; Its inhabitants; How to get 

there. The certainty of God's promise of a life beyond the grave, and the 
rewards that are in store for faithful service. By D. L. Moody. Over 134,000 
copies sold. 

"Eminently scriptural; earnest and impressive; will be welcomed by 
thousands." — Zion's Herald. 

No. 6— Prevailing Prayer; What hinders it? By D. L. 

Moody. Chapters on Adoration, Confession, Restitution, Thanksgiving, 
Forgiveness, Unity, Faith, Petition, Submission— nine elements that are 
essential to true prayer. Additional chapters on the prayers of the Bible, 
and answered prayers. 

"It is most searching and powerful in its appeals to the conscience, and 
abounds in well-told incidents."— Lay Preacher. 

"It is essentially a volume for Christian people."— The Preachers Analyst. 

No. 7— The Way of Life, marked out by Spurgeon, Chap- 
man, Mills, McNeill, Moody, Talmage. 

"These discourses are eminently practical, clear and Scriptural, and can 
scarcely fail to guide the honest inquirer in 'The Way of Life.' " — The Penin- 
sula Methodist. 

"A very strong number."— The Golden Rule. 

No. 8— Secret Power; or, The Secret of Success in Chris- 
tian Life and Christian Work. By D. L. Moody. Power— its source; 'in' 
and 'upon'; in witnessing; in operation; hindered. 
"A deeply earnest and helpful book for the use of Christians, on the work 

of the Holy Spirit in the believer, inciting to more diligent effort and to a more 

perfect use of the privileges of the 'Sons of God.' " 

"Every page is full of stimulating thought for Christian workers."— The 

Christian Commonwealth. 

No. 9— To the Work! A trumpet call to Christians, by 

D. L. Moody. Chapters on Hindrances, the Motive Power for Service, 

Faith, Courage. Enthusiasm, etc. 

"The prayerful study of this volume cannot fail to prove helpful and inspir- 
ing to all Christian workers, and to all who are aspiring to be like Christ in 
their love for souls and zeal for their salvation."— Presbyterian. 

No. 10 — According" to Promise; or, The Lord's Method 

of dealing with His chosen people. By C. H. Spurgeon. A companion 
volume to "All of Grace." (No. i of the Colportage Library series.) 
"It is an eminently practical volume, the fruit of a ripe experience; as simple 
in its form as it is searching in its exposure of counterfeit religion; and we 
have no doubt that many will have reason to rejoice that they made its acquaint- 
ance. As Mr. Spurgeon remarks in one of his homely sentences, 'he who 
looked into his accounts and found that his business was a losing one was 
saved from bankruptcy.' "—Christian Leader. 

No. 11 — Bible Characters. ByD. L. Moody. Studies of 

the characters of Daniel, Enoch, Lot, Jacob and John the Baptist; showing 
the ways of God with different men , in different periods and under different 
circumstances, always revealing the same wisdom, love and power. 
"Mr. Moody goes right into the heart of his subject, and in a few words 
shows his reader the great truth or principle involved, teaching lessons for all 
time and all generations. In his hands the Bible is a living book." — Chris- 
tian Age. 

No. 12 — Gospel Pictures and Story Sermons for chil- 
dren. By D. W. Whittle. Major Whittle's object sermons for children, teach- 
ing by the eye as well as by the ear. The topics are— The Poison Sermon. 
The Magnet Sermon. The Candle Sermon. The Commandments Sermon 
(two parts) . The Heart Sermon. Profusely illustrated. 
"Full of wholesome instruction and profitable suggestions,"-- The Rett* 

*>'ou$ Ttlescopt. 



The Colportage Library 

No. 13. And Peter, and other sermons. By J. Wilbur 

Chapman. Containing eight of Dr. Chapman's most helpful sermons. 

"It is difficult upon which point to dwell most, whether upon the persuasive, 
gentle manner of the speaker, his flow of fervid, unfailing knowledge, or his 
inexhaustible store of apt illustrations." — Union Gospel News. 

"The style and matter are almost as attractive as the magnetic utterances 
of the author. A 11 is direct, searching, forcible and readable."— Brotherhood 
Star. 

No. 14. Select Poems. Containing religious poems by 

different authors, American and English. 

"Contains thirty-one gems of religious verse.'' '—Northwestern Christian 
Advocate. 

"A selection in which rare discrimination and thorough knowledge of 
devotional verse are evinced."— Young Men's Era. 

No. 15. Light for Life's Duties. By F. B. Meyer, with 

an introduction by J. Wilbur Chapman. Chapters entitled: The Chambers 
of the King; The Lost Chord Found; The Secret of Victory over Sin; The 
First Step into the Blessed Life; With Christ in Separation; How to Read 
Your Bible; The Common Task; Young Men, Don't Drift; Words of Help 
for Christian Girls; Seven Rules for Daily Living. 

"Full of good things, and suitable for distribution."— Christian Observer. 
"Mr. Meyer is a great gain to the armies of evangelical truth, for his tone, 
spirit, and aspirations are all of a fine Gospel sort."— C. H. Spurgeon. 

No. 16. Point and Purpose in Story and Saying. 

"A collection of spirited anecdotes, each clinching a good moral."— The 
Golden Rule. 

"Full of pithy anecdote and illustration, of exceptional value to clergy and 
laymen." — Young Men's Era. 

No. 17. Selections from Spurgeon. Giving character- 
istic selections from Mr. Spurgeon's sermons, revealing the secret of his 
mighty power as a preacher. 
"Covers a wide variety of spiritual topics in the great preacher's inimitable 

way." — The Golden Rule. 

No. 18. The Good Shepherd, a life of our Savior for 

children. Large print, profusely illustrated. 

Hundreds of thousands of copies of this book have been sold in England. 

No. 19. Good Tidings, by Talmage, Spurgeon, Parker, 

McNeill. This book deals with the birth of Christ, iis text being, 'Behold, 
I bring you Good Tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto 
you is born this day— a Saviour." (Luke ii. 11, 12.) 

"Every page a bearer of good tidings to the mind and heart of the reader. 
A good book for the widest circulation."— The Evangelical. 

No. 20. Sovereign Grace, its source, its nature, and its 

effects. By D. L- Moody. 

"Rich in all that simple evangelistic teaching of which Mr. Moody is a 
master, the book cannot fail to be very useful." — Christian Age. 

"Full of gracious Pauline truths, forcibly and familiarly put, and pressed 
home with power." — Regions Beyond. 

"Particularly useful as showing the part which the grace of God takes in 
the work of conversion and regeneration."— Preacher's Analyst* 



The Colportage Library 

No. 21. Select Sermons. By D. L. Moody. Sermons 

entitled: "Where art thou?"; There is no difference; Good news; Christ 
seeking sinners; Sinners seeking Christ; "What think ye of Christ?'; Ex- 
cuses (two parts); 'The Blood" (two parts). 
"With the effect of these addresses, when spoken, the whole land is 

acquainted, and now that they are printed, they will tend to keep in force the 

impression they have already made."— Methodist. 

No. 22. Temperance. 

"A perfect magazine of anecdotes, experiences, facts and arguments, help- 
ful alike to general reader or public speaker."— The Baptist Union. 

"The subject is wisely and attractively handled. "—Herald and Presbyter. 

No. 23. Nobody Loves He. A story by Mrs. O. F. 

Walton. {Illustrated.) 

"A touching story of the way in which a hardened and loveless life was led 
into true light and love."— The Union Signal. 
"A beautiful tale."— Zion's Herald. 

No. 24. Resurrection. Sermons by MacLaren, Talmage, 

I,iddon, Moody and Spurgeon. 

"A rich collection of argument, exhortation, suggestion and application, 
centering upon the foundation doctrine of our Christianity."— The Evangelical. 

"The blessed hope of a glorious resurrection is made doubly real and pre- 
cious by the sermons of these men through whom God has often spoken."— 
The Golden Rule. 

No. 25. Vagen till Qud. ("The Way to God." See 

No. 2.) Swedish. 

No. 26. Sowing and Reaping. By D. L. Moody. 

On the text — "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man 
soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal. vi. 7.) 

"Graciously full of sound, practical truth. We find special pleasure in 
commending the book to our readers."— The IVeileyan Methodist. 

No. 27. Himmelen. ("Heaven." See No. 5.) Swedish. 
No. 28. Probable Sons. A Story. {Illustrated.) 

"A story of much interest and charm, illustrating some precious Scripture 
truths in a very effective way." — The Evangelical. 

"I could wish this little story might have a million readers, as it has proved 
a means of grace to my own heart." — Thomas Spurgeon. 

No. 29. Segervinnande Bon. ("Prevailing Prayer." 

See No. 6.) Swedish. 

No. 30. Good News. By Robert Boyd. 

"It will perhaps lend interest to the reading of this book to know that 
D. I,. Moody got his first definite ideas of gospel truths from its contents."— 
Extract ft om Preface. 

No. 31. Forborgad Kraft. ( "Secret Power." See No. 

8.) Swedish. 

No. 32. The Secret of Guidance. By F. B. Meyer. 

A companion volume to No. 14, "Light on I,ife's Duties." Chapters enti- 
tled "The Secret of Guidance"; "Where am I wrong?"; "The Secret of Christ's 
Indwelling"; "Fact! Faith! Feeling!"; "Why sign the pledge?"; "Burdens, and 
what to do with them"; "How ti bear sorrow' ';.' la the Secret of His pres« 
ence"; "The fulness of the Spirit". 

"These two books contain the essence of my teaching,"—/ 5 '. B. Meyer. 



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